John (/ˈdʒɒn/ JON) is a common male name in the English language ultimately of Hebrew origin.

), itself from Old French Jan, Jean, Jehan (Modern French Jean),[2] from Medieval Latin Johannes, altered form of Late Latin Ioannes,[2] or the Middle English personal name is directly from Medieval Latin,[3] which is from the Greek name Ioannis (Ιωάννης), originally borne by Jews transliterating the Hebrew name Yochanan (יוֹחָנָן‎), the contracted form of the longer name Yehochanan (יְהוֹחָנָן‎), meaning "YHWH is Gracious" or "YHWH is Merciful".

Initially, it was a favorite name among the Greeks, but it flourished in all of Europe after the First Crusade.

[1] Several obscure figures in the Old Testament bore this name, and it grew in popularity once borne by the high priest Johanan (fl.

[11][12] It is also the third most common name in the United States, with an estimated 3.18 million individuals as of 2021 according to the Social Security Administration.