- Meaning
- God is gracious
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Gender
- Boy
- Syllables
- 1
- Popularity
- US top 100
- Style
- Classic, Religious
- Used in
- English-speaking countries
What people expect from a John
John is built from soft sounds. Studies of name sounds find people expect someone with a soft name to be warm, agreeable and calm.
The meaning is about a blessing. A name can't give a child a blessing, but it's a nice thing to explain to them one day.
Names set expectations, not personalities. What the research says.
John: name scorecard
Save your future kid some trouble: give them a name they can live and grow with.
Great choice
John
- International readabilityReads well across languages, "j" (said differently in English, Spanish, German and French).
- Easy to say and spellSays itself: 1 syllable, spelt how it sounds.
- Not too common, not too strangePopular. Familiar and safe, a bit less personal.
- Playground-proofNo obvious rude words or rhymes. Kids are creative, though.
- Won't get you sued (or refused)Nothing a registrar would object to in most countries.
- A meaning to be proud ofMeans "God is gracious".
Names with a similar meaning
More Hebrew names
Germans have a word for teachers' bias against children named Kevin: Kevinismus.
Kaiser (2009), University of OldenburgQuestions about John
What does the name John mean?
John is a boy's name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is gracious".
Is John a boy or girl name?
John is usually a boy's name.
How popular is the name John?
John is in the US top 100. It is used in English-speaking countries.
Fun, but true. Name meanings come from common etymologies, which sometimes disagree. Height and weight paths are estimates from population growth data and published studies, not a medical assessment. If you're worried about your child's growth, talk to your paediatrician. Full disclaimer