Fun Facts About the Name John
- A favorite across generations: John stayed in the U.S. top 100 every year from 1880 through 2025 - 146 consecutive years.
- An all-time favorite: U.S. records show 5,182,497 boys named John from 1880 through 2025.
- Still popular, but losing ground: John's rank fell 10 places between 1995 and 2025, while remaining in the top 100.
- More than 5 million babies named John: U.S. records list 5,204,243 babies given the name John from 1880 through 2025. Even 21,746 girls received the name John - about 1 girl for every 238 boys.
What Does the Name John Mean?
John is the English form of a Hebrew name meaning "God is gracious" (more literally, "YHWH is gracious"). The Hebrew name is Yochanan (יוֹחָנָן), a shortened form of Yehochanan (יְהוֹחָנָן). It combines a theophoric element from the divine name YHWH with the verb chanan (חָנַן), "to be gracious, to show favor." The Greek form Ioannes (Ἰωάννης) and the Latin form Iohannes (later Johannes) carried the name into European languages; Old French Jehan and Middle English Johan led to modern English John. The final -s in the Greek and Latin forms is a language-specific adaptation, not part of the Hebrew name. John is not related to Jonathan, a different Hebrew name (Yehonatan, "YHWH has given").
John Name History & Origins
The Hebrew name Yochanan appears in the Hebrew Bible. Among its bearers are a son of King Josiah (1 Chronicles 3:15) and several priests and Levites in Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah. In the Greek New Testament, the name is Ioannes, used for John the Baptist and John the Apostle. The Latin Bible and Christian writers rendered it Iohannes, which became Johannes in medieval Latin. From these forms came vernacular equivalents across Europe, including Jean in French, Giovanni in Italian, Juan in Spanish, João in Portuguese, Johannes and Hans in German, and Ivan in Russian.
In England, Iohannes appears in Old English religious texts, but the common English given name John developed from Anglo-Norman Johan and Old French Jehan after the Norman Conquest. Middle English spellings include Johan, Jon, and John. It was a common name in medieval England. The name was also borne by King John of England (reigned 1199 - 1216) and by numerous popes. Common surnames such as John, Johns, and Johnson derive from the given name or from patronymic forms of it.
How Popular is the Name John?
John has maintained century-spanning popularity, remaining an unbroken fixture in the U.S. top 100 continuously from 1880 to 2025.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #13,974 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2024 | #11,539 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2023 | #16,249 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2022 | #12,824 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2021 | #10,645 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2020 | #10,646 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 2019 | #7,920 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2018 | #7,938 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2017 | #10,291 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2016 | #9,120 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2015 | #9,768 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2014 | #8,250 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2013 | #7,555 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2012 | #10,030 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2011 | #6,235 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 2010 | #10,784 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2009 | #10,293 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2008 | #6,240 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 2007 | #6,195 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 2006 | #4,205 | 35 | 0.0018% |
| 2005 | #3,909 | 37 | 0.0020% |
| 2004 | #2,408 | 71 | 0.0039% |
| 2003 | #4,349 | 30 | 0.0016% |
| 2002 | #5,562 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 2001 | #3,981 | 32 | 0.0018% |
| 2000 | #4,467 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 1999 | #3,273 | 39 | 0.0022% |
| 1998 | #4,180 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 1997 | #3,849 | 29 | 0.0017% |
| 1996 | #3,176 | 37 | 0.0021% |
| 1995 | #2,701 | 45 | 0.0026% |
| 1994 | #2,602 | 48 | 0.0027% |
| 1993 | #2,021 | 69 | 0.0038% |
| 1992 | #2,333 | 56 | 0.0030% |
| 1991 | #2,120 | 63 | 0.0034% |
| 1990 | #1,786 | 81 | 0.0043% |
| 1989 | #1,207 | 134 | 0.0073% |
| 1988 | #989 | 167 | 0.0094% |
| 1987 | #863 | 197 | 0.0113% |
| 1986 | #774 | 220 | 0.0128% |
| 1985 | #744 | 233 | 0.0135% |
| 1984 | #700 | 238 | 0.0141% |
| 1983 | #649 | 266 | 0.0159% |
| 1982 | #730 | 234 | 0.0138% |
| 1981 | #816 | 195 | 0.0117% |
| 1980 | #689 | 251 | 0.0151% |
| 1979 | #698 | 243 | 0.0151% |
| 1978 | #712 | 222 | 0.0145% |
| 1977 | #713 | 218 | 0.0142% |
| 1976 | #703 | 210 | 0.0143% |
| 1975 | #658 | 231 | 0.0158% |
| 1974 | #615 | 254 | 0.0173% |
| 1973 | #654 | 229 | 0.0157% |
| 1972 | #668 | 224 | 0.0147% |
| 1971 | #621 | 272 | 0.0163% |
| 1970 | #601 | 290 | 0.0166% |
| 1969 | #584 | 288 | 0.0171% |
| 1968 | #558 | 303 | 0.0185% |
| 1967 | #554 | 289 | 0.0175% |
| 1966 | #565 | 284 | 0.0168% |
| 1965 | #614 | 252 | 0.0143% |
| 1964 | #621 | 264 | 0.0139% |
| 1963 | #627 | 260 | 0.0135% |
| 1962 | #585 | 286 | 0.0145% |
| 1961 | #613 | 275 | 0.0136% |
| 1960 | #651 | 242 | 0.0120% |
| 1959 | #664 | 229 | 0.0113% |
| 1958 | #692 | 205 | 0.0102% |
| 1957 | #656 | 225 | 0.0110% |
| 1956 | #638 | 224 | 0.0112% |
| 1955 | #690 | 185 | 0.0095% |
| 1954 | #690 | 185 | 0.0095% |
| 1953 | #713 | 164 | 0.0087% |
| 1952 | #630 | 197 | 0.0106% |
| 1951 | #604 | 202 | 0.0112% |
| 1950 | #638 | 180 | 0.0105% |
| 1949 | #588 | 199 | 0.0116% |
| 1948 | #605 | 192 | 0.0113% |
| 1947 | #600 | 203 | 0.0115% |
| 1946 | #548 | 208 | 0.0132% |
| 1945 | #520 | 197 | 0.0151% |
| 1944 | #540 | 180 | 0.0136% |
| 1943 | #490 | 229 | 0.0164% |
| 1942 | #475 | 241 | 0.0178% |
| 1941 | #472 | 221 | 0.0183% |
| 1940 | #463 | 208 | 0.0182% |
| 1939 | #445 | 228 | 0.0208% |
| 1938 | #457 | 216 | 0.0196% |
| 1937 | #445 | 218 | 0.0205% |
| 1936 | #446 | 203 | 0.0195% |
| 1935 | #449 | 208 | 0.0198% |
| 1934 | #408 | 257 | 0.0246% |
| 1933 | #430 | 226 | 0.0224% |
| 1932 | #374 | 298 | 0.0279% |
| 1931 | #356 | 325 | 0.0305% |
| 1930 | #327 | 402 | 0.0357% |
| 1929 | #321 | 411 | 0.0368% |
| 1928 | #323 | 424 | 0.0368% |
| 1927 | #318 | 440 | 0.0369% |
| 1926 | #339 | 385 | 0.0325% |
| 1925 | #355 | 367 | 0.0301% |
| 1924 | #347 | 382 | 0.0306% |
| 1923 | #362 | 335 | 0.0278% |
| 1922 | #385 | 285 | 0.0237% |
| 1921 | #401 | 285 | 0.0231% |
| 1920 | #395 | 281 | 0.0235% |
| 1919 | #370 | 307 | 0.0272% |
| 1918 | #419 | 248 | 0.0214% |
| 1917 | #397 | 253 | 0.0234% |
| 1916 | #411 | 227 | 0.0217% |
| 1915 | #430 | 200 | 0.0203% |
| 1914 | #408 | 169 | 0.0222% |
| 1913 | #449 | 122 | 0.0195% |
| 1912 | #446 | 112 | 0.0201% |
| 1911 | #505 | 68 | 0.0163% |
| 1910 | #422 | 88 | 0.0222% |
| 1909 | #461 | 67 | 0.0193% |
| 1908 | #475 | 58 | 0.0173% |
| 1907 | #445 | 65 | 0.0204% |
| 1906 | #531 | 43 | 0.0146% |
| 1905 | #521 | 43 | 0.0147% |
| 1904 | #524 | 40 | 0.0145% |
| 1903 | #499 | 41 | 0.0157% |
| 1902 | #521 | 38 | 0.0144% |
| 1901 | #485 | 39 | 0.0163% |
| 1900 | #502 | 46 | 0.0153% |
| 1899 | #462 | 40 | 0.0172% |
| 1898 | #416 | 55 | 0.0213% |
| 1897 | #433 | 46 | 0.0196% |
| 1896 | #408 | 50 | 0.0210% |
| 1895 | #360 | 61 | 0.0261% |
| 1894 | #362 | 60 | 0.0269% |
| 1893 | #343 | 61 | 0.0287% |
| 1892 | #363 | 54 | 0.0254% |
| 1891 | #379 | 44 | 0.0237% |
| 1890 | #344 | 56 | 0.0294% |
| 1889 | #346 | 52 | 0.0292% |
| 1888 | #333 | 52 | 0.0291% |
| 1887 | #286 | 56 | 0.0384% |
| 1886 | #300 | 48 | 0.0332% |
| 1885 | #297 | 45 | 0.0338% |
| 1884 | #309 | 40 | 0.0310% |
| 1883 | #279 | 40 | 0.0356% |
| 1882 | #278 | 40 | 0.0371% |
| 1881 | #313 | 26 | 0.0283% |
| 1880 | #229 | 46 | 0.0506% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #23 | 8,027 | 0.4699% |
| 2024 | #21 | 8,047 | 0.4691% |
| 2023 | #26 | 7,793 | 0.4561% |
| 2022 | #26 | 7,993 | 0.4582% |
| 2021 | #27 | 8,182 | 0.4680% |
| 2020 | #27 | 8,262 | 0.4789% |
| 2019 | #28 | 8,857 | 0.4939% |
| 2018 | #26 | 9,198 | 0.5066% |
| 2017 | #27 | 9,530 | 0.5150% |
| 2016 | #28 | 10,055 | 0.5300% |
| 2015 | #26 | 10,421 | 0.5438% |
| 2014 | #26 | 10,699 | 0.5571% |
| 2013 | #27 | 10,736 | 0.5677% |
| 2012 | #28 | 10,635 | 0.5607% |
| 2011 | #27 | 11,065 | 0.5827% |
| 2010 | #26 | 11,567 | 0.6029% |
| 2009 | #26 | 12,133 | 0.6118% |
| 2008 | #20 | 13,335 | 0.6537% |
| 2007 | #19 | 14,440 | 0.6958% |
| 2006 | #19 | 15,176 | 0.7384% |
| 2005 | #18 | 15,791 | 0.7907% |
| 2004 | #18 | 16,467 | 0.8297% |
| 2003 | #17 | 17,249 | 0.8732% |
| 2002 | #17 | 17,476 | 0.9001% |
| 2001 | #14 | 18,903 | 0.9730% |
| 2000 | #14 | 20,113 | 1.0241% |
| 1999 | #15 | 20,365 | 1.0606% |
| 1998 | #15 | 20,631 | 1.0794% |
| 1997 | #15 | 21,386 | 1.1345% |
| 1996 | #15 | 22,186 | 1.1712% |
| 1995 | #13 | 23,244 | 1.2210% |
| 1994 | #15 | 24,186 | 1.2519% |
| 1993 | #16 | 24,995 | 1.2744% |
| 1992 | #14 | 26,255 | 1.3145% |
| 1991 | #10 | 27,809 | 1.3765% |
| 1990 | #12 | 29,090 | 1.4163% |
| 1989 | #12 | 29,853 | 1.4920% |
| 1988 | #11 | 29,423 | 1.5371% |
| 1987 | #11 | 29,553 | 1.5829% |
| 1986 | #10 | 30,208 | 1.6404% |
| 1985 | #9 | 31,499 | 1.7042% |
| 1984 | #8 | 32,611 | 1.8068% |
| 1983 | #9 | 33,158 | 1.8496% |
| 1982 | #8 | 34,707 | 1.9126% |
| 1981 | #8 | 34,872 | 1.9467% |
| 1980 | #8 | 35,277 | 1.9773% |
| 1979 | #7 | 35,412 | 2.0568% |
| 1978 | #7 | 34,018 | 2.0718% |
| 1977 | #7 | 34,199 | 2.0811% |
| 1976 | #6 | 33,979 | 2.1654% |
| 1975 | #7 | 35,075 | 2.2463% |
| 1974 | #6 | 37,618 | 2.3923% |
| 1973 | #6 | 39,169 | 2.5130% |
| 1972 | #5 | 43,162 | 2.6614% |
| 1971 | #4 | 51,508 | 2.9125% |
| 1970 | #4 | 58,496 | 3.1477% |
| 1969 | #4 | 58,737 | 3.2845% |
| 1968 | #3 | 60,906 | 3.5043% |
| 1967 | #4 | 61,603 | 3.5325% |
| 1966 | #4 | 65,015 | 3.6454% |
| 1965 | #2 | 71,499 | 3.8434% |
| 1964 | #2 | 82,519 | 4.1410% |
| 1963 | #2 | 78,616 | 3.8712% |
| 1962 | #3 | 78,420 | 3.7907% |
| 1961 | #3 | 79,973 | 3.7653% |
| 1960 | #4 | 76,086 | 3.5689% |
| 1959 | #4 | 76,445 | 3.5814% |
| 1958 | #5 | 76,049 | 3.5833% |
| 1957 | #5 | 79,032 | 3.6635% |
| 1956 | #5 | 80,806 | 3.8200% |
| 1955 | #5 | 80,122 | 3.8898% |
| 1954 | #4 | 81,176 | 3.9816% |
| 1953 | #4 | 80,167 | 4.0646% |
| 1952 | #3 | 83,138 | 4.2774% |
| 1951 | #3 | 81,570 | 4.3322% |
| 1950 | #3 | 79,412 | 4.4357% |
| 1949 | #3 | 81,180 | 4.5763% |
| 1948 | #3 | 82,832 | 4.7208% |
| 1947 | #3 | 88,321 | 4.8274% |
| 1946 | #3 | 79,266 | 4.8809% |
| 1945 | #3 | 66,118 | 4.9129% |
| 1944 | #3 | 66,611 | 4.8876% |
| 1943 | #3 | 68,928 | 4.8294% |
| 1942 | #3 | 66,041 | 4.7817% |
| 1941 | #3 | 57,519 | 4.6828% |
| 1940 | #3 | 54,784 | 4.7261% |
| 1939 | #3 | 51,025 | 4.6100% |
| 1938 | #3 | 50,518 | 4.5547% |
| 1937 | #3 | 48,753 | 4.5707% |
| 1936 | #3 | 47,679 | 4.5969% |
| 1935 | #3 | 47,510 | 4.5625% |
| 1934 | #3 | 46,742 | 4.5267% |
| 1933 | #3 | 46,225 | 4.6621% |
| 1932 | #3 | 48,625 | 4.6569% |
| 1931 | #3 | 48,422 | 4.6575% |
| 1930 | #3 | 52,447 | 4.7793% |
| 1929 | #3 | 52,110 | 4.8447% |
| 1928 | #2 | 53,761 | 4.8537% |
| 1927 | #2 | 55,949 | 4.9647% |
| 1926 | #2 | 56,108 | 5.0525% |
| 1925 | #2 | 57,195 | 5.1254% |
| 1924 | #2 | 59,052 | 5.2132% |
| 1923 | #1 | 57,467 | 5.2428% |
| 1922 | #1 | 57,281 | 5.2640% |
| 1921 | #1 | 58,215 | 5.2853% |
| 1920 | #1 | 56,913 | 5.3472% |
| 1919 | #1 | 53,523 | 5.4608% |
| 1918 | #1 | 56,558 | 5.5806% |
| 1917 | #1 | 51,852 | 5.6027% |
| 1916 | #1 | 50,043 | 5.6223% |
| 1915 | #1 | 47,576 | 5.6066% |
| 1914 | #1 | 37,947 | 5.7955% |
| 1913 | #1 | 29,329 | 5.7220% |
| 1912 | #1 | 24,588 | 5.7189% |
| 1911 | #1 | 13,446 | 5.9504% |
| 1910 | #1 | 11,450 | 5.8957% |
| 1909 | #1 | 9,590 | 5.8477% |
| 1908 | #1 | 9,343 | 6.0536% |
| 1907 | #1 | 8,983 | 6.1181% |
| 1906 | #1 | 8,264 | 6.2063% |
| 1905 | #1 | 8,059 | 6.0912% |
| 1904 | #1 | 8,108 | 6.3283% |
| 1903 | #1 | 7,608 | 6.3809% |
| 1902 | #1 | 7,907 | 6.4463% |
| 1901 | #1 | 6,900 | 6.4809% |
| 1900 | #1 | 9,828 | 6.5314% |
| 1899 | #1 | 6,990 | 6.5812% |
| 1898 | #1 | 8,159 | 6.6504% |
| 1897 | #1 | 7,550 | 6.6958% |
| 1896 | #1 | 8,138 | 6.8063% |
| 1895 | #1 | 8,320 | 7.0873% |
| 1894 | #1 | 8,237 | 7.1151% |
| 1893 | #1 | 8,049 | 7.1663% |
| 1892 | #1 | 9,039 | 7.4069% |
| 1891 | #1 | 7,680 | 7.5896% |
| 1890 | #1 | 8,502 | 7.6578% |
| 1889 | #1 | 8,548 | 7.7302% |
| 1888 | #1 | 9,247 | 7.6515% |
| 1887 | #1 | 8,110 | 7.9972% |
| 1886 | #1 | 9,026 | 8.1475% |
| 1885 | #1 | 8,756 | 8.1225% |
| 1884 | #1 | 9,388 | 8.2033% |
| 1883 | #1 | 8,894 | 8.5008% |
| 1882 | #1 | 9,557 | 8.4065% |
| 1881 | #1 | 8,768 | 8.7040% |
| 1880 | #1 | 9,655 | 8.7383% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
