John

Pronunciation: JAHN (key)

Origin of the name John:

Derived from the Middle Latin Johannes, which is from the Ecclesiastic Late Latin Joannes, which is from the Greek Iōannes. Iōannes is from the Hebrew Yehanan, a short form of Yehohanan which is derived from yehōhānān (Yahweh is gracious). John is the most enduring of the biblical names and remains one of the most popular names bestowed in the United States. Var: Jon. Pet: Johnnie, Johnny, Jonnie, Jonny.

From A World of Baby Names by Teresa Norman. Buy the book

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Sibling Names for John...

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Nicknames for John: | Edit

Jack, Johnny, Johnner, Johnnie-Boy, John-John, Jackie

Meanings and history of the name John: | Edit
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Famous real-life people named John: | Edit

John Adams, second president of the United States
John Quincy Adams, sixth president of the United States
John Brown, abolitionist
John Cage, American composer
John Cale, Welsh rock musician (Velvet Underground)
John Cleese, member of Monty Python
John Cusack, American actor
Dr. John Dee, physician, astrologer, and consultant to Queen Elizabeth I
John Donne, British preacher and poet
John Dos Passos, "Lost Generation" novelist
John Fogerty, folk-rock musician (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
John Ford, American western director
John Fowles, British author
John Kenneth Galbraith, economist
John Green, author/blogger
John Huston, American film director and actor
John Keats, British Romantic poet
John F. Kennedy, thirty-fifth president of the United States
John Lennon, member of the Beatles
John Major, British Prime Minister (1990-97)
John Mayer, singer/songwriter/heartthrob
John McCain, U.S. senator and presidential candidate
John McCusker, Scottish folk musician and producer
John Muir, Scottish naturalist, founder of the Sierra Club
John Ritter, American actor/comedian
John Philip Sousa, "The March King," American composer
John Turturro, American actor
John Tyler, tenth president of the United States
John Wayne, actor
John the Baptist
The apostle John
King John I ("Bad King John") of England
Johnny Appleseed, born John Chapman (1774 – 1845), American pioneer nurseryman
John Simm, British actor
John Paul Jones, American naval commander of the Revolutionary War (“I have not yet begun to fight!”)... Also the name of a member of Led Zeppilin
John Krasinski, Actor
John Travolta, Actor
John Cena, Professional Wrestler
John Updike; novelist, poet, short story writer, art critic, and literary critic
John Denver, country/folk singer-songwriter

John in song, story & screen: | Edit

"Uncle John's Band" -- Grateful Dead song
Nursery rhyme: Diddle, diddle, dumpling, my son John (went to bed with his stockings on...)
John-Boy Walton, from the television show "The Waltons".
John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt
Sir John Falstaff, Shakespearean character
"Beautiful John" by Madder Rose
Little John (John Little), Robin Hood's chief sidekick

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