John
John is a boy's name of Hebrew origin.
Meaning
God is gracious.
Origin and history
John is a classic masculine name of Hebrew origin, meaning 'God is gracious'. Historically one of the most widely used names in the Western world, it consistently ranked near the top of U.S. birth charts for decades and remains very popular today.
Popularity in the United States
5,182,633 babies in the United States have been named John since 1880. It ranks #2 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #21.
States where it is most popular
- NY (10.1 %)
- PA (8.6 %)
- CA (6.4 %)
- IL (5.6 %)
- OH (5.2 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 89,949 |
| 1890-1900 | 80,664 |
| 1900-1910 | 84,590 |
| 1910-1920 | 376,311 |
| 1920-1930 | 564,052 |
| 1930-1940 | 487,950 |
| 1940-1950 | 711,614 |
| 1950-1960 | 797,922 |
| 1960-1970 | 713,394 |
| 1970-1980 | 402,612 |
| 1980-1990 | 321,150 |
| 1990-2000 | 240,151 |
| 2000-2010 | 161,104 |
| 2010-2019 | 102,800 |
| 2020-2029 | 48,370 |
Famous people named John
- John F. Kennedy: U.S. President, Politician
- John Lennon: Musician, Songwriter
- John Legend: Musician, Singer
Nicknames
Johnny, Jack, Jon, Johnnie
Fun facts
- John was the most popular male name in the United States from 1880 through 1923.
- The name has been borne by numerous kings, popes, and world leaders throughout European history.