John
Meaning of John
John is the brisk, one-syllable charmer that has been shaking hands across centuries. Rooted in the Hebrew Yochanan, it carries the hopeful meaning “God is gracious,” and that gentle promise has traveled from the Bible’s John the Baptist and the Gospel writer all the way to modern icons like President John F. Kennedy, Beatle John Lennon, and cowboy legend John Wayne. Stateside, John once ruled the crib kingdom—holding the No. 1 spot for decades—and even after a slow, gentlemanly step back, it still cruises comfortably inside the Top 30, proving that classic never quits. Pronounced simply “john,” it rolls off the tongue like an old friend’s greeting, which may be why it doubles as the go-to placeholder for “John Doe” and the everyman hero in novels and films. Parents who pick John aren’t just choosing a name; they’re gifting their son a well-worn passport that opens doors from the playground to the boardroom, balancing timeless gravitas with an easygoing grin.
Pronunciation
American English
- Pronunced as jahn (/dʒɑn/)
British English
- Pronunced as jonn (/dʒɒn/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
States Popularity Chart
Notable People Named John
| John Lennon was an English musician and activist who founded the Beatles, served as co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist, and formed with Paul McCartney the most successful songwriting partnership in history. |
| John Glenn was an American astronaut and Ohio senator who in 1962 became the first American to orbit Earth and in 1998 returned to space at age 77. |
| John the Baptist was a first century Jewish preacher by the Jordan River, honored as Saint John the Forerunner, Saint John the Immerser, the prophet Yahya ibn Zakariya, and John the Baptiser. |
| John Mayer is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist who left Berklee for Atlanta, went solo after Lo-Fi Masters, and broke through with a Grammy for Your Body Is a Wonderland and the hit albums Room for Squares and Heavier Things. |
| John Wesley was an English cleric and theologian who led the Methodist revival and founded societies that became the Methodist movement. |
| John Wilkes Booth was a 19th century American stage actor and Confederate sympathizer who assassinated President Abraham Lincoln at Fords Theatre in 1865. |
| John Glover Roberts Jr. has served since 2005 as the 17th Chief Justice of the United States, a moderate conservative institutionalist and occasional swing vote who has overseen a shift toward more conservative jurisprudence. |
| English comedian and actor John Cleese cofounded Monty Python after early success with Cambridge Footlights and The Frost Report, starring in its classic series and films like Holy Grail and Life of Brian. |
| John Higgins is a Scottish snooker great from Wishaw, a four time world champion with nine Triple Crown titles and 33 ranking wins who stayed in the top 16 for over 29 years and was world number one four times. |
| John Ernst Steinbeck was an American writer and 1962 Nobel laureate, celebrated for realistic, imaginative works and keen social insight, often hailed as a giant of American letters. |
| John Coltrane was an American jazz saxophonist, bandleader, and composer widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in jazz and 20th century music. |
| John Joseph Gotti Jr. was an American mob boss who ordered the 1985 murder of Paul Castellano and then led the Gambino family, long considered the most powerful US crime syndicate. |
| John Denver, born Henry John Deutschendorf Jr, was an American country and folk singer songwriter and actor who became one of the best selling and most beloved acoustic artists of the 1970s. |
| John Legend is an American singer and rapper who rose from behind the scenes to become the first artist signed to Kanye Wests GOOD Music, breaking out with the double platinum 2004 debut album Get Lifted and the hit Ordinary People. |
| John VII Palaiologos was Byzantine emperor for five months in 1390, reigned under his birth name but sometimes used Andronikos to honor his father. |
