John is a boy name with a classic feel, drawn from real birth records. Below you'll find what John means and where it comes from, plus how many babies have been named John across the United States, UK, Ireland and New Zealand, how popular John has been over the decades, and the year it peaked.
John is a boy name of Hebrew origin meaning “God is gracious”. from Yochanan; among the most enduring Christian names.
| Country | Births on record |
|---|---|
| United States since 1880 | 5,204,377 births |
| England & Wales since 1996 | 22,174 births |
| Scotland since 1974 | 29,180 births |
| Northern Ireland since 1997 | 2,338 births |
| Ireland since 1964 | 73,225 births |
| New Zealand top 100, since 1954 | 27,114 births |
Counts come from official national birth-registration statistics: U.S. Social Security Administration, England & Wales (Office for National Statistics), Scotland (National Records of Scotland), Northern Ireland (NISRA), Ireland (Central Statistics Office) and New Zealand (Dept. of Internal Affairs). Coverage spans differ, so totals aren't directly comparable across countries.
Babies named John per year, United States (1880 to 2025). United States peaked in 1947 (88,527/yr) · Ireland peaked in 1964 (3,696/yr) · England & Wales peaked in 1996 (1,649/yr) · Scotland peaked in 1974 (1,528/yr) · Northern Ireland peaked in 1997 (182/yr).
John has been one of the most popular baby names in the United States. It was most common in 1947, when it ranked #4 nationally (given to 88,527 babies that year), and a popular choice in the 1940s.
Joan · Jean · Juan · Johnny · Joann · Joanne · Johnnie · Jon
Not sure if it's the one? The best way to know is to see if your partner loves it too. Swipe baby names with your partner and match on the ones you both ❤️, free, no account needed to start.
Find your name together →