Research-backed
In This Article
- Origin, Meaning, And History Of John
- How To Pronounce John?
- Phonemic Representation Of John
- Notable People Named John
- John On The Popularity Chart
- Popularity Over Time
- Rank Over Time
- John On MomJunction Popularity Chart
- John Name's Presence On Social Media
- John’s Mention In Fictional Works
- Names With Similar Sound As John
- Popular Sibling Names For John
- Other Popular Names Beginning With J
- Names With Similar Meaning As John
- Names Rhyming With John
- Anagram Names Of John
- Popular Songs On The Name John
- Acrostic Poem On John
- ‘John’ In QR Code
- Adorable Nicknames For John
- John’s Zodiac Sign As Per Western Astrology
- John’s Zodiac Sign And Birth Star As Per Vedic Astrology
- Infographic: Know The Name John's Personality As Per Numerology
- John In Different Languages
- John In Fancy Fonts
- Adorable ‘John’ Wallpapers To Share
- How To Communicate The Name John In Sign Languages
- Name Numerology For John
- Baby Name Lists Containing John
- Movie Titles Inspired By The Name John
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Look Up For Many More Names
Origin, Meaning, And History Of John
John is a traditional boy’s name of Hebrew origin that means ‘God is gracious.’ The name John first appears in the Old Testament in its Hebrew form. The Greek-language New Testament better translated the Hebrew name Yohanan as Ioannes, later Johannes in Late Latin, and finally John in English.
The name’s widespread popularity is primarily owed to two significant figures in the New Testament, both highly revered saints. The first is John the Baptist, a Jewish ascetic recognized as the precursor to Jesus. He performed the baptism of Jesus and was later killed by Herod Antipas. The second is the apostle John, traditionally believed to be the author of the fourth gospel and the Book of Revelation. As one of the inner circle disciples, along with Peter and James (his brother), John held a special position in relation to Jesus.
Initially, this name was more commonly used among Eastern Christians in the Byzantine Empire. However, its popularity expanded throughout Western Europe after the First Crusade. In England, it became exceedingly popular, often ranking as the most common male name from the 13th to the 20th century, occasionally surpassed by William. During the later Middle Ages, approximately one-fifth of all English boys were given this name. It remained the most common name for boys in the United States until 1923.
The phonetic spelling of the name is JON or J(ohn). John has interesting variants in different languages, such as Jean in French, Ivan in Russian, Juan in Spanish, Jan in Dutch, and Giovanni in Italian. Some feminine variants of John include Jane, Janet, Jeanne, Jacqueline, Jana, and Jackie. Adorable nicknames for John include Jimmy, JoJo, Jack, Jimbo, and Joe.
In addition to being a common choice for baby names, John has long been worn by several notable personalities. Among them are John Balliol, who ruled Scotland from 1292 to 1296, John Adams, the United States’ second president from 1797 to 1801, and John Michael Turturro, an American actor and director best known for his work on the Transformers and The Batman movie franchises.
John has been a very popular name in the US and is used in pop culture to name multiple fictional characters. Some include John as John Hamish Watson, a character from the mystery TV series Sherlock Holmes; John Reese from the American drama series Person of Interest; John Bennett, a character from the series Alphas and John Bender from the comedy film The Breakfast Club.
John
Boy
Christianity
Hebrew
2
One
1 word, 4 letters, 1 vowel, 3 consonants
Short and easy to pronounce
Connected with someone called John? Send this page their way as a fun share!
How To Pronounce John?
The way you pronounce a name can make all the difference.
Listen to the sound of the name John in English.
Phonemic Representation Of John
Phonemics is the study of a language’s distinctive sound units (phonemes), as standardized by the International Phonetics Association. When choosing a name for your baby, knowing its phonemic pronunciation gives an idea about the name’s sound pattern and auditory appeal. You can assess the name’s ease of pronunciation, memorability, and softness. Here is the phonemic transcription of John in American and British accents.
- In American English: /dʒɑn/
- In British English: /dʒɒn/
Pronunciation of names, in fact, any spoken word, involves the participation of various parts of the mouth, vocal cord, nose, and lungs. Underneath all the sounds we make is the airstream flowing from the lungs and moving up to the mouth. It’s incredible how lips, tongue, teeth, alveolar ridge, palate, glottis, and larynx work harmoniously to bring out the words. Studies have proved that positive sounds like OM (AUM) help maintain hormonal balance and mental health and reduce stress and anxiety. So, what parts does John trigger? Find the details here; the sound of John might bring in more positive vibes into your life!
| Phoneme | Articulation |
|---|---|
| /dʒ/ | Raising the front part of the tongue to the palate. Airflow stop closure releases with friction |
| /ɑ/ | Tongue low back, open mouth. Airflow is continuous |
| /n/ | Tip of the tongue touching the alveolar ridge. Airflow stops for a fraction of a second |
Notable People Named John
This section covers people who have made the name John famous with their contributions in various fields. It indeed is a little more inspiration for you to choose the name for your baby, don’t you think?
- John MiltonPoet and civil servant
- John TravoltaActor, producer, dancer, and singer
- John AdamsPolitician, Diplomat, Lawyer, Founding Father of the United States, 2nd President of the United States
- John McCainPolitician,United States Senator
- John ColtraneAmerican jazz saxophonist and composer
- John Lee CarrollMember of the United States Democratic Party and the 37th Governor of Maryland from 1876 to 1880.
- John AmplasAmerican actor, best known for his roles in films like Dawn of the Dead and Creepshow.
- John AsherAmerican actor and film director,known for his role in series Weird Science
- John BoozmanAmerican politician and former optometrist serving as the senior United States senator.
- John AylwardAmerican actor , known for his role in NBC television series The West Wing
- John CondroneAmerican professional wrestler and singer-songwriter
- John CameronNew Zealand cricketer, played one first-class match for Otago in 1917/18.
John On The Popularity Chart
John was a popular baby name in the early 2000s. However, its popularity gradually declined. Refer to the graphs below for a detailed overview.
Popularity Over Time
From 20,108 babies named John in 2000, only 8,130 babies received the name in 2021. Take a look at the graph below to know how the name fared during these years.
Source: Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
John’s ranking was best in the year 1983 when it was ranked at 12,079. Refer to the graph below for better insight.
Source: Social Security AdministrationJohn On MomJunction Popularity Chart
Know how popular the name John is among the MomJunction readers. We used a unique approach to gather relevant insights for creating this popularity chart by observing the interactions and interest around the name on our platform. See what the trend has been among our readers over these past years.
John Name’s Presence On Social Media
Before you finalize your baby’s name, you would want to assess if the name is rare or popular. Digital footprint of the name - it’s presence on the internet and social media platforms - can provide you with valuable insights on it’s popularity. A name’s online presence is an important metric for new parents to evaluate their options and make an informed choice. How many people are searching the name on Google, how many profiles are there on Facebook, does the name have a Wikipedia page? Such information surely tells you if the name is ubiquitous or unique. Here is how John fares on that count.
Number of profiles on Facebook
Monthly global searches on Google
John’s Mention In Fictional Works
In this section, know how the creative minds have treated the name John in their fictional works. How often has the name been woven into the storylines, and how popular was the character – these details may not directly influence your naming decision, but you would like to know about John’s performance in the world of entertainment, won’t you? Moreover, it could be the name of the character from a movie or series you loved or binge-watched recently! So, check out John’s performance in the fictional cosmos.
| Title | Character name | Role played by |
|---|---|---|
| Every Five Minutes | John | Russell Bernstein |
| Musings of the Classic Sherlock Holmes Actor | John Barrymore | James Hare |
| Facing Trauma | John | Neal Kodinsky |
| Messages | John | Eduardo Velho |
| Benefits Clip | John | Daniel Eghan |
| Within the Space of the Soap Bubbles | The John | John Paliferro |
| Brotherhood | John | Christian Kim |
| You, I Know | John | Nigel O'Neill |
| Gone Golfin' | John | John Ryan Howard |
| Meeting the HR Manager | John | Swaylee Loughnane |
Names With Similar Sound As John
Did John’s sound appeal to you? Here are some more similar-sounding names that you can explore.
Popular Sibling Names For John
If you are looking for some matching sibling names that resonate with John, check our suggestions here.
Boy Sibling Names For John
Find matching brother names for John and create a wonderful team of siblings.
JanJanek Jani Janic Janie Janis Janko Jannes Jannic Jannik Girl Sibling Names For John
Looking for some suitable sister names for John? Check out our collection of beautiful and unique names.
JanaJanada Janah Janalee Janaliz Janari Janata Janay Janeah Janean Other Popular Names Beginning With J
Looking for more baby names starting with the letter J to resonate with your family’s naming tradition or to rhyme with the sibling names? Find a range of alternative names starting with this letter.
Names With Similar Meaning As John
Are you looking for more names that mean as lovely as John? Below are some suggestions to consider.
Names Rhyming With John
The significance of rhyming names extends beyond their aesthetic appeal and a good feel. The repetition and symmetry enhance their memorability. If you want your children’s names to be easily remembered or tune with your name, try some rhyming names. Here are such names that rhyme with John.
Anagram Names Of John
William Shakespeare is known for his ‘onomastic wit,’ with anagrams being one of them (remember the play Twelfth Night?). Anagram is the rearrangement of the same letters to form different words. Anagramming names has been in vogue for centuries now, and why not when it can create some cute names? Anagram baby names stand out with their unique sound and spellings. You may try an anagram of your name or your partner’s; even better if you combine both names and then try an anagram for the baby. It all stays in the family this way. You may also try anagram names for siblings, especially twins. Here are some anagrams of John.
JhonPopular Songs On The Name John
Acrostic Poem On John
Dive into the lyrical charm of the name John with this acrostic poem. Witness how each letter paints together a story, capturing the name’s individuality, strength, vitality, and sophistication. Inspiring, is it? Why not try a similar poem that describes what you think of your baby’s personality?
Jewel of our eyes.
Original but not an oddball, an open-minded soul.
Happiest of hearts with the sweetest smile.
Noble and pious, an angel sent from above.
‘John’ In QR Code
Here's a unique feature for the modern, tech-savvy, and curious parents – have your baby's name in a QR code. If you want your close circle to know your newborn's name, all you need to do is simply scan and share it. The code not only shows the name but its meaning as well; this means you don't have to painfully explain the meaning of your baby's name anymore! So, go ahead. Download, save, and share it with your family and friends, or use it to create personalized keepsakes for your little one.
Adorable Nicknames For John
Nicknames are an integral part of your communication with your baby. You tend to use several variations of your child’s name; some are meaningful, while others are simply adorable sounds. Here are a few nicknames you can begin with for the name John.
- Jonny
- Johnny
- J
- Jack
- Jay
John’s Zodiac Sign As Per Western Astrology
Western astrology includes the construction of a horoscope based on the person’s exact time of birth and location to understand the positions of the planet, stars, and zodiac signs at that time. However, in popular culture, it is often narrowed down to the sun sign, which depends on the person’s birth date.There are 12 zodiac signs, each having dominant traits, planetary rulers, elemental connection, and more.
Zodiac sign or Sun sign
The Earth’s orbit around the sun is divided into 12 zodiac signs covering 30-degree sectors. According to Western astrology, the zodiac or sun sign depends on the sun’s position in one of these sectors at the time of your birth. Starting from the sun’s position at the March equinox, the chart goes anti-clockwise from Aries, followed by Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces. These signs are ruled by planetary bodies - Mars, Venus, Mercury, Moon, Sun, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Furthermore, they are categorized into triplicities or elemental signs - fire, water, air, and earth - that govern their characteristics. Each of these zodiac signs features certain personality traits that may determine how a person presents themselves.
Why the date of birth matters
Each zodiac sign in Western astrology is linked to a specific range of dates in the year. Unlike Vedic astrology, where names can sometimes be used to infer astrological details, Western astrology relies entirely on the birth date.
To know more about your baby’s zodiac sign, choose the period in which your baby’s date of birth falls, from the options given below. This will give you a glimpse into the world of astrology tailored for your baby.
Select your baby’s birthdate range
Mar 21 – Apr 19
Apr 20 – May 20
May 21 – Jun 20
Jun 21 – Jul 22
Jul 23 – Aug 22
Aug 23 – Sep 22
Sep 23 – Oct 22
Oct 23 – Nov 21
Nov 22 – Dec 21
Dec 22 – Jan 19
Jan 20 – Feb 18
Feb 19 – Mar 20
John’s Zodiac Sign And Birth Star As Per Vedic Astrology
Vedic astrology, also called Jyotisha, provides deep insights into a person’s life based on celestial positions at birth. Rashi and nakshatra, which are an integral part of Jyotisha, are believed to influence an individual’s personality and life events. The following sections give you rashi-related information, such as the associated letters, elements, ruling body, quality, and nakshatra for the name John. These details help analyze a person’s characteristics, personality, and behavior.
Zodiac Sign (Rashi)
As shown in the following table, each rashi is associated with specific sounds, which are often used as the starting letters of names for newborns in Hindu families. Each rashi is represented by a figure and one of the five elements – Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Ether (Space). One ruling celestial body, known as its 'rashi lord' or 'ruler' is assigned to these rashis. These bodies include Venus, Mars, Sun, Moon, Mercury, Jupiter, and Saturn. Furthermore, the rashis are assigned various qualities or gunas.
| Rashi (zodiac sign) | Makar (Capricorn) |
|---|---|
| Starting letters for Makar (Capricorn) rashi | KH, J |
| Representation | Crocodile |
| Element | Earth |
| Ruling body | Saturn |
| Quality | Movable |
Birth Star (Nakshatra)
Another important aspect of Vedic Astrology is the nakshatras, the lunar constellations or star clusters that the Moon occupies during a person's birth. There are 27 nakshatras, each with its own unique qualities, attributes, and symbolism. Each rashi contains two-and-one-fourth nakshatras in it. For example, Aries contains Ashwini, Bharani, and Krithika nakshatras.
The below table provides information on the nakshatras’ degrees on the zodiac circle, their lords and related syllables, for babies born in the Makar (Capricorn) rashi. These syllables/phonetics are popularly used to choose the baby name. For precise nakshatra calculation based on your baby's birthplace and date, use our Nakshatra Calculator.
| Nakshatra | Degrees Of The Nakshatra | Nakshatra Lord (Ruler) | Name Syllables |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utharashada (Utharadam) | Capricorn (0 to 10 degrees) | Sun | Be, Bo, Ja, Ji, Bha, Bhe, Bho, Jaa, Jee |
| Sravana (Shravana, Thiruvonam) | Capricorn (10 to 23.20 degrees) | Moon | Ju, Je, Jo, Khi, So, Khu, Khe, Kho |
| Dhanishta (Avittam) | Capricorn (23.20 to 30 degrees) | Mars | Ga, Gi, Gu, Ge, Gee |
Infographic: Know The Name John‘s Personality As Per Numerology
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
John In Different Languages
It’s exciting to see our baby’s name spelled and written in various languages. See how people spell John in Spanish, French, German, Italian, and more! Each language has its own way of saying John, but it’s still the same special name. Learn how the name looks and sounds in different languages around the world!
| Name | Language | Code |
|---|---|---|
| John | English | en |
| 约翰 | Chinese | zh-CN |
| जॉन | Hindi | hi |
| John | Spanish | es |
| John | French | fr |
| جون | Arabic | ar |
| জন | Bengali | bn |
| John | Portuguese | pt |
| Джон | Russian | ru |
| جان | Urdu | ur |
| John | Indonesian | id |
| John | German | de |
| ジョン | Japanese | ja |
| जॉन | Marathi | mr |
| జాన్ | Telugu | te |
| John | Turkish | tr |
| ஜான் | Tamil | ta |
| John | Vietnamese | vi |
| John | Tagalog | tl |
| 남자 | Korean | ko |
| John | Hausa | ha |
| John | Swahili | sw |
| John | Javanese | jv |
| John | Italian | it |
| ਜੌਨ | Punjabi | pa |
| જ્હોન | Gujarati | gu |
| จอห์น | Thai | th |
| ಜಾನ್ | Kannada | kn |
| ጆን | Amharic | am |
| जॉन | Bhojpuri | bho |
| John | Yoruba | yo |
John In Fancy Fonts
Visualize your little one’s name in different captivating fonts. You can use these fancy styles on birth announcement cards, nursery decorations, personalized gifts, to name a few. Select the perfect font from these options for a touch of personalization.
- Double Struck Font𝕁 𝕠 𝕙 𝕟
- Bold Script Font𝓙 𝓸 𝓱 𝓷
- Fancy Style 35 Fontյ ⊕ h η
- Fancy Style 7 FontĴ Ø Ħ Ň
- Love FontJ♥ o♥ h♥ n♥
- Black Square Font🅹 🅾 🅷 🅽
- Hand Writing 2 FontJ σ ԋ ɳ
- X Above Bellow FontJ͓̽ o͓̽ h͓̽ n͓̽
Liked our fancy fonts for John? Why not go a step forward with these beautiful posters? They are perfect to download and use as display pictures or social media posts! You may also use them as part of decorating your child’s room. These personalized wallpapers celebrate the positive vibes of the name, offering a unique way to show how much this name means to you. What’s more! You have multiple options here to choose depending on your mood or occasion.
John 3D Wallpaper
Download
ShareJohn Birthday Wallpaper
Download‘I Love John’ Wallpaper
DownloadStylish John Wallpaper
DownloadJohn Name Initial Wallpaper
DownloadHow To Communicate The Name John In Sign Languages
In Nautical Flags
John
In Sign Language
John
In Braille Alphabet
John
In Morse Code
John
In Barcode
In Binary
01001010 01101111 01101000 01101110
Name Numerology For John
Numerology is an occult system that gives significance to numbers and their influence on human life and destiny. Numerologists attribute specific qualities, energies, and characteristics to a number. Parents who believe in numerology prefer to choose baby names that resonate positively with the child’s unique numerical vibrations, often derived from their date of birth. Here we give a general birth number and personality traits of the name John, based on the Pythagorean (Western) system. This analysis will differ from child to child based on their date of birth. You may use our numerology calculator for more personalized information.
The name you give a child at birth is like their numerological DNA - it is a blueprint of who they are, their talents and character traits, their likes and dislikes, and much more. So choose carefully and, if possible, consider an ancestral name, especially one that belonged to an ancestor who did well and lived a good life. But consult a numerologist for more insight and perhaps a little fine-tuning by changing a letter or adding a middle name.
Baby Name Lists Containing John
Read through our baby name lists that include the name John and several other similar names. The wider the choice, the better your selection. Isn't it?
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Movie Titles Inspired By The Name John
Discover the presence of John in an array of films. Know about the various movies that have this name.
| Movie title | Other titles | Release year |
|---|---|---|
| John Farnham: Finding the Voice | 2023 | |
| John Wick: Chapter 4 | Džon Vik 4, Džonas Vikas 4, Džons Viks 4, John Wick 4, John Wick 4: Baba Yaga, John Wick: 4. felvonás, John Wick: Capitolul 4, John Wick: Capítulo 4, John Wick: Chapitre 4, John Wick: Kapitel 4, John Wick: Kapitola 4, John Wick: Κεφάλαιο 4, Jon Uik 4, Sát Thủ John Wick: Chương 4, Джон Вік 4, Джон Уик 4, Џон Вик 4, ジョン・ウィック：コンセクエンス, 捍衛任務4, 殺神John Wick 4, 疾速追杀4 | 2023 |
| Her Majesty's Prime Ministers: John Major | 2023 | |
| John Early: Now More Than Ever | John Early: ahora más que nunca, Untitled John Early/HBO Max Special | 2023 |
| John & Joe Bishop: Life After Deaf | 2022 | |
| John Williams: The Berlin Concert | Från Star Wars till Harry Potter - Konsert med John Williams | 2022 |
| John Luther | 2022 | |
| John Waite: The Hard Way | 2022 |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the meaning of the name John?
The name John means ‘God is gracious.’
2. What is the origin of the name John?
John has a Hebrew origin.
3. How to pronounce the name John?
John is pronounced as ‘jon.’
4. Is John short for Jonathan?
No, John cannot be considered short for Jonathan, as these are two different names, even though they sound similar. John derives from the Hebrew name Yochanan, while Jonathan derives from the Hebrew Yehonatan.
5. Does the name John have a good rank in terms of popularity?
Most recently, the name John was ranked 26th in the US as per the Social Security Administration data (1).
6. Is John a unisex name?
John, as a first name John is a masculine name. It cannot be used for a girl.
References
- Popularity of name John.
https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/ - John
https://www.etymonline.com/word/John - John
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bd/john?lang=eng - John
Roswell Dwight Hitchcock, Hitchcock’s Bible Names Dictionary - Astrology, Hermes (2023); Astrology for Beginners.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/370635414_Astrology_for_Beginners - Shirley Lawrence; The Secret Science of Numerology: The Hidden Meaning of Numbers and Letters.
https://www.academia.edu/97492675/The_Secret_Science_of_Numerology_The_Hidden_Meaning_of_Numbers_and_Letters_Shirley_Lawrence&nav_from=a3c5c3fd-555f-4584-b66d-4a3c8023402e&rw_pos=0 - Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia; “zodiac”; Encyclopedia Britannica.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/zodiac - P.V.R. Narasimha Rao; Vedic Astrology: An Integrated Approach.
https://www.vedicastrologer.org/articles/vedic_astro_textbook.pdf - Paulo Martins; A Concise History of Hindu Astrology and Indian Spirituality; Scholars Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.
https://www.saspublishers.com/media/articles/SJAHSS_112_33-36_FT_MAEgJAB.pdf - International Phonetic Association.
https://www.internationalphoneticassociation.org/ - Adam Szczegielniak; Phonetics: The Sounds of Language; Harvard University.
https://scholar.harvard.edu/files/adam/files/phonetics.ppt.pdf - Lalita K. Wani et al; Review of Scientific Analysis Of Sacred Sound OM (AUM); Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (JETIR), Novermber 2020.
https://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2011207.pdf
Look Up For Many More Names
Do you have a name in mind and want to know more about it? Or want to find names belonging to a particular origin, religion, or having a specific meaning? Use our search tool below to explore more baby names with different combinations.
