John
Say it: JON/d͡ʒɒn/
BoyMeans usually explained as "God is gracious"4 letters1 syllable
#29
in Ireland (2025)
#31 with spellings combined
164
babies in 2025
#1
best rank (1964)
73,225
babies since 1964
Down 3
10-year rank change
John through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 164 | #31 |
| 2024 | 168 | #30 |
| 2023 | 152 | #32 |
| 2022 | 160 | #36 |
| 2021 | 198 | #28 |
| 2020 | 193 | #26 |
| 2019 | 209 | #31 |
| 2018 | 241 | #29 |
| 2017 | 266 | #22 |
| 2016 | 269 | #25 |
| 2015 | 266 | #28 |
| 2014 | 293 | #25 |
| 2013 | 287 | #27 |
| 2012 | 297 | #25 |
| 2011 | 312 | #26 |
| 2010 | 343 | #24 |
| 2009 | 346 | #21 |
| 2008 | 377 | #22 |
| 2007 | 392 | #21 |
| 2006 | 394 | #18 |
| 2005 | 386 | #17 |
| 2004 | 366 | #21 |
| 2003 | 333 | #22 |
| 2002 | 362 | #15 |
| 2001 | 372 | #15 |
| 2000 | 398 | #14 |
| 1999 | 369 | #15 |
| 1998 | 340 | #13 |
| 1997 | 636 | #5 |
| 1996 | 677 | #6 |
| 1995 | 703 | #5 |
| 1994 | 709 | #4 |
| 1993 | 825 | #2 |
| 1992 | 757 | #4 |
| 1991 | 952 | #2 |
| 1990 | 972 | #2 |
| 1989 | 1,062 | #2 |
| 1988 | 1,110 | #2 |
| 1987 | 1,250 | #2 |
| 1986 | 1,330 | #1 |
| 1985 | 1,437 | #2 |
| 1984 | 1,608 | #1 |
| 1983 | 1,710 | #1 |
| 1982 | 1,965 | #1 |
| 1981 | 2,071 | #1 |
| 1980 | 2,510 | #1 |
| 1979 | 2,707 | #1 |
| 1978 | 2,280 | #1 |
| 1977 | 2,086 | #1 |
| 1976 | 2,106 | #1 |
| 1975 | 2,088 | #1 |
| 1974 | 2,330 | #1 |
| 1973 | 2,431 | #1 |
| 1972 | 2,506 | #1 |
| 1971 | 2,654 | #1 |
| 1970 | 2,629 | #1 |
| 1969 | 2,811 | #1 |
| 1968 | 2,863 | #1 |
| 1967 | 2,981 | #1 |
| 1966 | 3,160 | #1 |
| 1965 | 3,360 | #1 |
| 1964 | 3,696 | #1 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does John mean?
Usually explained as "God is gracious"
From the Hebrew name Yohanan, through Greek and Latin Iohannes.
Say it right
JON
The story of John
John goes back to the Hebrew name Yohanan, usually explained as “God is gracious”. It passed through Greek and Latin as Iohannes and reached English through Norman French. Irish has its own forms of the same name, Seán and Eoin.
Its popularity rests on two saints of the New Testament, John the Baptist and John the Apostle. From the Middle Ages on it was one of the most common men’s names in Europe.
In Ireland John was number 1 every year from 1964 to 1984. In 1964 alone, 3,696 baby boys were given the name. It has eased back since the 1990s, but it is still a top-30 name: it was number 29 in the official CSO list in 2025. It has fallen further in Northern Ireland, where it ranked 67th that year.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: John (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: John (given name)
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, Baby Names in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Nicknames
JohnnyJack
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| John | 164 | 73,225 |
In Northern Ireland
#67 in 2025 with 35 babies. Best rank #17 (1997); 2,373 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.