John
Peaked at #1 nationally in 1880, based on real US Social Security Administration birth records.
Girls vs. boys, all-time
Since 1880, John has been recorded <1% of the time for girls and >99% of the time for boys.
Meaning & origin
John comes from the Hebrew name Yohanan, meaning "God is gracious" or "Yahweh has been gracious." It passed into English via the Greek Ioannes and Latin Johannes — the name of two central New Testament figures, John the Baptist and John the Apostle — which helped make it one of the most widely adopted names in the Christian world.
Notable people & culture
Four U.S. presidents have carried the name — John Adams, John Quincy Adams, John Tyler, and John F. Kennedy — and it's been used by more than 20 popes and multiple English and Scottish monarchs, including King John of England, who sealed the Magna Carta in 1215. More recent bearers include John Lennon and Sir Elton John (born Reginald Dwight). Common nicknames include Jack, Johnny, and Jon.
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John — Girls (United States)
FallingPeak rank
#229
in 1880
Current rank
#11539
in 2024
Years tracked
145
1880–2024
Trend
Falling
John was already at its most popular for girls in 1880 (the earliest year in this data, ranked #229), with 46 babies given the name that year.
Over the last 10 years of data, its rank has slipped from #8250 (2014) to #11539 (2024) — a 29% drop.
As of 2024, John ranks #11539 nationally for girls, with 8 babies given the name that year.
Recent years
| Year | Rank | Births |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #11,539 | 8 |
| 2023 | #16,249 | 5 |
| 2022 | #12,824 | 7 |
| 2021 | #10,645 | 9 |
| 2020 | #10,646 | 9 |
| 2019 | #7,920 | 14 |
| 2018 | #7,938 | 14 |
| 2017 | #10,291 | 10 |
John — Boys (United States)
RisingPeak rank
#1
in 1880
Current rank
#21
in 2024
Years tracked
145
1880–2024
Trend
Rising
John was already at its most popular for boys in 1880 (the earliest year in this data, ranked #1), with 9,655 babies given the name that year.
Over the last 10 years of data, its rank has climbed from #26 (2014) to #21 (2024) — a 19% improvement.
As of 2024, John ranks #21 nationally for boys, with 8,047 babies given the name that year.
Recent years
| Year | Rank | Births |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #21 | 8,047 |
| 2023 | #26 | 7,793 |
| 2022 | #26 | 7,993 |
| 2021 | #27 | 8,182 |
| 2020 | #27 | 8,262 |
| 2019 | #28 | 8,857 |
| 2018 | #26 | 9,198 |
| 2017 | #27 | 9,530 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, National Data, 1880–2024.
Similar trajectory
Other names that peaked around the same era and rose or fell on a comparable curve.
Based on US data — boys' names only.
Common Questions
When was John most popular?
John was most popular in 1880, when it ranked #1 nationally for boys — the highest rank it has reached in this data.
Is John becoming more or less popular?
For girls, it's currently falling; for boys, it's currently rising, based on the last decade of SSA data.
How many babies have been named John?
At least 5,196,210 babies have been recorded with the name John in the US since 1880, according to Social Security Administration birth records.
Looking for more name ideas like John? Try the Baby Name Generator or compare it against other names on the Name Trends hub.