What does John mean?
John means “God is gracious”. It is a boy name of Aramaic origin, listed under the Christian faith in our collection.
Origin, gender and faith
- Origin: Aramaic – see more Aramaic names.
- Gender: Boy – browse boy names.
- Faith: Christian
- Popularity: ranked #4562 in BabyNameMeaningz data.
Sound, spelling and pronunciation
John has 4 letters and 1 syllable, made of 1 vowels and 3 consonants (4 different letters). Its sound is best described as: crisp consonant ending.
Press Listen at the top of the page to hear the name spoken aloud, which helps when you are comparing how a name sounds next to a surname or a sibling’s name.
How the lucky number, colour and star sign are worked out
These three facts are calculated from the spelling of John with simple, fixed rules. They are for fun and are not a prediction or a real horoscope.
Lucky number
2Each letter gets its place in the alphabet (A=1 … Z=26): J=10 + O=15 + H=8 + N=14 = 47. Then the digits are added until one digit is left: 4 + 7 = 11. Then the digits are added until one digit is left: 1 + 1 = 2. Result: 2.
Favorite colour
OrangeThe lucky number picks the colour from a fixed table. John has lucky number 2, so the colour is Orange.
Star sign
CapricornOnly the first letter counts (J). The twelve signs repeat along the alphabet: A = Aries, B = Taurus … L = Pisces, then M = Aries again. It is not based on a birth date.
Nickname ideas for John
Short and affectionate forms built from the spelling of John. They are ideas, not traditional or cultural nicknames, so pick the ones that feel natural to say.
Couple names that go with John
Partner names that match John by origin, faith, length and sound (Girl names). The percentage is a style match, and the blend is a fun combined name.
How is the match % worked out?
Start at 60. Same origin +9, same faith +6, similar length up to +8, different first letter +5, same last two letters +3 (maximum 99). Blend = first half of one name + second half of the other.
Blend ideas: John + Mary = Jory · John + Tabi = Jobi · John + Lydia = Joia · John + Marfa = Jofa
Sibling names for John
Names that sit well next to John: similar origin and style, with a close length, sound or ending.
How are siblings chosen?
Start at 45. Same origin +10, same faith +8, same first letter +8, same last two letters +8, close length up to +10, close syllables up to +8, very similar spelling +6. Brothers and sisters are ranked separately.
Brother names
Sister names
Twin name ideas for John
If John is one twin’s name, these pair with it in different ways. Each percentage shows how well the pair fits that style.
How are twin names scored?
Same scoring as couples, plus a style bonus: Same first letter +18 (else −8), Same ending +18 (else −6), Balanced +5 for a different first letter and +3 for the same ending.
Same first letter
Same ending
Balanced match
Names with a similar meaning
Names whose meaning shares a key idea with John (gracious).
How are similar meanings found?
We take the first two meaningful words of the meaning (4+ letters, common words removed) and list names whose meaning contains the same word.
Frequently asked questions
What does John mean?
John means “God is gracious” and is of Aramaic origin.
What is the origin of John?
In our collection John is listed as a name of Aramaic origin, associated with the Christian faith.
Is John a boy or a girl name?
John is listed as a boy name.
What is the lucky number for John?
By name numerology (A=1 … Z=26) the lucky number for John is 2, with the star sign Capricorn. This is for entertainment only.
How do you pronounce John?
John has 1 syllable. Use the listen button on this page to hear it spoken aloud.
What are some nicknames for John?
Spelling-based nickname ideas for John include Jo, Joh, Johy, Johie, Joo.
Which names have a similar meaning to John?
Names with a related meaning include Joao, Zaniyah, Johnluke, Arhab, Jonael, Yoan.