Johnny
Say it: JON-ee/ˈd͡ʒɒn.i/
BoyMeans a pet form of John, which means "God is gracious"6 letters2 syllables
#252
in Ireland (2025)
#247 with spellings combined
18
babies in 2025
#154
best rank (2024)
531
babies since 1983
Down 2
10-year rank change
Johnny through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 18 | #247 |
| 2024 | 32 | #154 |
| 2023 | 25 | #196 |
| 2022 | 33 | #168 |
| 2021 | 25 | #203 |
| 2020 | 18 | #253 |
| 2019 | 33 | #173 |
| 2018 | 23 | #230 |
| 2017 | 20 | #250 |
| 2016 | 18 | #263 |
| 2015 | 21 | #245 |
| 2014 | 24 | #231 |
| 2013 | 22 | #245 |
| 2012 | 23 | #240 |
| 2011 | 20 | #256 |
| 2010 | 16 | #284 |
| 2009 | 13 | #313 |
| 2008 | 15 | #287 |
| 2007 | 15 | #253 |
| 2006 | 13 | #257 |
| 2005 | 16 | #213 |
| 2004 | 11 | #244 |
| 2003 | 7 | #305 |
| 2002 | 5 | #348 |
| 2001 | 6 | #297 |
| 2000 | 4 | #347 |
| 1999 | 8 | #222 |
| 1998 | 3 | #369 |
| 1997 | 5 | #303 |
| 1996 | 3 | #369 |
| 1995 | 5 | #281 |
| 1994 | 4 | #299 |
| 1993 | 3 | #339 |
| 1992 | 4 | #298 |
| 1991 | 4 | #288 |
| 1990 | 3 | #323 |
| 1989 | 3 | #307 |
| 1988 | 3 | #319 |
| 1984 | 4 | #274 |
| 1983 | 3 | #330 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Johnny mean?
A pet form of John, which means "God is gracious"
English, from John with the familiar ending -y.
Say it right
JONee
The story of Johnny
Johnny is John with the familiar ending -y. John goes back to a Hebrew name meaning “God is gracious”, and its Irish form is Seán. Johnny has been used as a pet name for centuries, and since the 1500s it has sometimes been given as a first name in its own right.
As a registered first name, Johnny first appears in the CSO records in 1983. The most boys in one year was 33, in 2019, and its best rank was number 154 in 2024. In 2025, 18 boys were named Johnny. The CSO counts John separately, and John is far more common.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Johnny (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Johnny
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Johnny | 18 | 531 |
In Northern Ireland
#212 in 2025 with 9 babies. Best rank #178 (2005); 183 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.