John

Gender Usage of the Name John

Overall Gender Classification Methodology

John is overwhelmingly used as a name for boys. Approximately 99.7% of recorded bearers are male. This classification is supported by extensive records and is considered highly reliable.

Popularity of the Name John

John is among the Top 81 Trending Boys’ name in the United Kingdom for 2026

John is among the Top 62 Trending Boys’ name in Canada for 2025

• Worldwide

  #108 Boy’s name (2025)

• • United States

    #23 Boy’s name (2025)

  • United Kingdom

    #102 Boy’s name (2025)

  • Canada

    #79 Boy’s name (2024)

  • Australia

    Unranked (2025)

Note: Green bars show popularity (% of births); the violet line shows historical ranking. Data is based on official government birth records. Click any chart to view details by year and region.

Overall PopularityMethodology

John is listed under Popular Boy Names worldwide. Its popularity is relatively consistent across the available regional markets.

Ranking OverviewMethodology

John ranked #108 on the Popular Boys’ Names Worldwide List (2025). It fell from #86 in 2024 — a drop of 22 places. John maintains a steady presence among commonly used names.

Historically, its best recorded position was #1, achieved in multiple years (1910–1956) — 36 years total. Its lowest recorded position was #108 in 2025. Over the last 5 years (2020–2025) the name fell -27 places (from #81 to #108).

Name StyleMethodology

Characteristics of the Name John

Pronunciation & StructureMethodology

Phonetic Source

CMU

Syllables

1 syllable — One-Syllable Boy Names

Length

4 letters — Short Boy Names

Starts with

J — Boy Names Starting with J

Ends with

n — Boy Names Ending in “n”

Name AestheticMethodology

John relies on a single-syllable structure ending in a nasal consonant, which creates a grounded, authoritative cadence. Its deep cultural standing is defined by John the Baptist and the Apostle John, grounding the name in Elegant & Timeless traditions. This simplicity ensures a permanent, recognizable presence in historical records.

Middle Names For John

Middle names used with JohnMethodology

John is most frequently used with these boy middle names: John Michael · John David · John William · John Thomas · John RobertView all 2,258 boy middle names.

• Total 6,359 middle names used with John
• 1,557 girl middle names used with John
• 2,181 unisex middle names used with John

Middle name suggestions for JohnMethodology

Based on observed first-middle-name pattern combinations, John is most frequently associated with boy middle names that have 2 syllables, Strong–Weak stress pattern, 6 letters, and a starting sound of “m”.

Examples: John Milton · John Melvin · John Marvin · John Marcus · John Mathew. View all 142 suggested middle names.

Names Similar to John

Sound Like John Finder

Names with the exact same overall pronunciation and sound: Juan · Johnny · Jon · View all 70 names

Spelled Like John Finder

Names with similar spelling patterns and letter sequences: Johny · Johni · Jon · View all 8 names

Same Starting Sound Finder

Names that begin with a similar phonetic sound: James · Joseph · George · View all Top 100 names

Rhymes With John Finder

Names that share similar ending sounds and rhymes: Steven · Kevin · Brian · View all Top 100 names

Same Rhythm & Syllables Finder

Names with matching syllable stress and pronunciation rhythm: James · Charles · George · View all Top 100 names

Dictionary & Etymology of “John”

Dictionary Meaning of "John"Methodology

• A male given name originating from the Bible [in turn from Hebrew]; very popular since the Middle Ages.

  Show details

  • Used generically for a man whose actual name may not be known.
  • Used frequently to form an idea personified, as in John Bull, John Barleycorn (see derivations below).
  Examples

  • a John Doe murder case; the dreaded Dear John letter; if we were to ask John Q. Public his opinion

• A male given name originating from the Bible [in turn from Hebrew]; very popular since the Middle Ages

  Examples

  • John is a most excellent name, and Smith is a surname which is worthy of respect and honor, but wo to the man on whom they are conjoined! For John Smith to aspire to senatorial dignities or to the laurel of a poet is simply ridiculous. Who is John Smith? He is lost in the multitude of John Smiths, and individual fame is impossible.
  • The name I refer to is John. It has been borne by many illustrious men and an innumerable multitude of the obscure. - - - It is as fixed as the English landscape and the procession of seasons. It never becomes wearisome or tarnished. Nothing affects it; nothing can bring it into contempt; it stands like a rock amid the turbulent waves of human history, as fine and noble a thing now as it was when it first took shape on human lips. It is a name to live up to; but if one who bears it sinks into disrepute it falls not with him, but rather stays in the firmament above him, shining down upon him like a reproachful star.

• Persons of the Christian Bible: John the Baptist; and names possibly referring to one, two or three persons, frequently called "Saint": John the Apostle, John the Evangelist and John of Patmos (also called John the Divine or John the Theologian)

  Examples

  • There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

• The Gospel of St. John, a book of the New Testament of the Bible. Traditionally the fourth of the four gospels

• One of the books in the New Testament of the Bible, the epistles of John (1 John, 2 John and 3 John)

• A surname originating as a patronymic

Alternative Forms

Jon · Joh.

Translations

The name John has 511 translations, for example: in Spanish it is rendered as one of the epistles of John, in French it is rendered as fourth gospel, etc..

More Info

How to Spell John in ASL

• J
• o
• h
• n

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