The Name “John” in Different European Languages

Map found on redditThe map above shows some of the ways you can say the name John in various European languages, however it’s far from exhaustive.

Wikipedia has a much more complete list which you can see below:

Language	Masculine form	Feminine form
Afrikaans	Jan, Johan, Johann, Johannes, Hannes, Hans	Hanna, Jana, Janke, Johanna
Adyghe (Circassian)	Иуан (Iuan)
Albanian	Gjon, Gjin, Joan, Jovan, Jani	Gjonika, Joana, Jovana, Jana
Alemmanic	Hans, Hannes, Hansli, Hänsli, Housi, Jänu
Alsatian	Schàngi
Amharic	ዮሐንስ (Yoḥännǝs)
Arabic	يحيى (Yaḥyā, Qurʾānic), يوحنا (Yūḥannā, Biblical) or حنّا (Henna or Hanna)
Aragonese	Chuan	Chuana
Armenian	Հովհաննես (Hovhannes); Օհաննես (Ohannes); Classical Armenian: Յովհաննէս (Hovhannēs)
Assyrian	ܝܘܿܚܲܢܵܢ (Yoḥannān), Yukhannan, Yokhanna
Asturian	Xuan	Xuana
Azerbaijani	Yəhya
Basque	Manez, Ganix, Joanes, Iban,	Ibane, Jone
Bavarian	Hans, Hanse, Hansi, Hansl, Hannas
Belarusian	Іван (Ivan), Ян (Jan), Янка (Janka), Янэк (Janek), Ясь (Jaś),	Івонка (Ivonka), Янiна (Janina)
Bangla	ইয়াহিয়া (Iyahiya), জনি (Jony), হান্নান (Hannan)
Breton	Yann, Yannig	Jan, Janig, Yannez
Bulgarian	Иван (Ivan), Йоан (Yoan), Янко (Yanko), Яне (Yane)	Ивана (Ivana), Иванка (Ivanka), Йоан[н]а (Yoana), Яна (Yana), Янка (Yanka)
Burmese (Myanmar)	ယောဟန် (Yawhaan)
Catalan	Joan, Jan, Ivan	Joana, Jana, Janna, Ivana
Cantonese	約翰 (Yoek-hon)
Cherokee	ᏣᏂ (Tsa-ni)
Chinese (Mandarin)	simplified Chinese: 约翰; traditional Chinese: 約翰; pinyin: Yuēhàn
Coptic	ⲓⲱϩⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ (Iohannes), ⲓⲱⲁ (Ioa)
Cornish	Jowan, Jan
Corsican	Ghjuvanni	Ghjuvanna
Croatian	Ivan, Ivanko, Ive, Ivek, Ivica, Ivo, Janko, Vanja, Jan	Iva, Ivana, Ivanka, Vanja, Jana
Czech	Jan, Honza, Hanuš	Jana, Johana, Johanka
Danish	Hans, Jens, Jan, Johan, John, Johannes,	Hanne, Johanne
Dagbani	Jɔn
Dawan	Yohanes	Yohana
Dholuo	Johana
Dutch	Han, Hannes, Hans, Jan, Johan, Johannes, Jannes, Jens, Wannes, Sjeng	Hanne, Hanna, Hannah, Jana, Janke, Janne, Janneke, Jannetje, Jantje, Johanna
Emiliano-Romagnolo	Guiàn, Zvan
English	Johnny (diminutive), Jack (diminutive), Shawn/Shaun, Shane, Jan	Joan, Joanna, Joanne, Joann, Jan, Jane, Jayne, Jayna, Janet, Janice, Janis, Jean, Jeane, Jeanne, Jeannie, Shany
Estonian	Jaan, Juhan, Juho, Janno, Jukk, Jaanus, Johannes, Hannes, Hans	Jaana, Johanna
Esperanto	Johano
Extremaduran	Huan
Faroese	Jann, Janus, Jens, Jenis, Jóan, Jóannes, Jónar, Jógvan, Jóhann, Jóhannes, Hannis, Hanus, Hans[14]
Fijian	Jone, Ioane
Filipino	Juan	Juana
Finnish	Johannes, Jussi, Janne, Jani, Juho, Juha, Juhana, Juhani, Jukka, Hannes, Hannu,[15] Joni, Jonne	Johanna, Joanna, Jonna, Janette, Janna, Jaana, Hanna, Hanne
French	Jean, Yoann, Jan, Jehan (outdated)	Jeanne, Jeannette (short), Jane, Jehane (outdated)
Friulian	Zuan, Nani, Neto, Zan, Zaneto	Zuane, Gjovane, Joane, Nane, Zuanine
Galician	Xoán, Xan	Xoana
Ge'ez	ዮሐንስ (Yoḥännǝs)
Georgian	იოანე (Ioane), ივანე (Ivane), იოვანე (Iovane), ვანო (Vano), ივა (Iva)
German	Hannes, Hans, Johann, Johannes, Jan, Hanno, Jens, Jannik	Jana, Janina, Johanna, Hanna, Hanne
Greek	Ιωάννης (Ioannis), Γιάννης (Yiannis, sometimes Giannis)	Ιωάννα (Ioanna), Γιάννα (Yianna, sometimes Gianna)
Greenlandic	Juaanasi, Juaansi
Guaraní	Huã
Gujarati	યોહાન (Yōhāna)
Hawaiian	Keoni, ʻIoane
Hausa	Yahaya
Hebrew	יוחנן (Yoḥanan), יהוחנן (Yehoḥanan)	יוחנה (Yôḥannā) Johanna
Hindi	यूहन्ना (Yuhanna), Yohana, Ayan
Hmong	Yauhas
Hungarian	János, Jani, Jancsi (monikers)	Johanna, Hanna, Zsanett, Janka
Icelandic	Jóhann, Jóhannes, Jón, Hannes	Jóhanna
Igbo	Jọn
Indonesian/Malay	Iwan, Yahya, Yan, Yaya, Johan, Yohanes, Yuan, John	Yohana, Yana, Hana
Interlingua	Luan	Luana
Irish	Seán, Eoin	Seána, Seona, Síne, Sinéad, Siobhán, Siún
Italian	Gianni, Giovanni, Vanni, Nino, Vannino	Giovanna,
Jèrriais (Norman)	Jeaun
Japanese	ヨハネ (Yohane), ジョン (Jon)
Javanese	Yohanes, Yokanan
Kannada	ಯೋಹಾನನು (Yōhānanu)
Kazakh	Жақия (Jaqıyya), Шоқан (Şoqan)
Khmer	យ៉ូហាន (Yauhan)
Kikuyu	Johana, Yoane
Korean	요한 (Yohan)[16]
Kyrgyz	Жакан (Jakan), Жакыя (Jakıya)
	Жаныш (Janısh) Жунус (Junus)
Kristang	Juang
Kupang Malay	Yohanis	Yohana
Lao	ໂຢຮັນ (Yo-han)
Latin	Ioannes
Latvian	Jānis, Janis, Jancis, Janka, Jans, Jāns, Jānuss, Jānušs, Jonass, Žans, Žanis, Džons, Džonijs, Džanni, Džovanni, Ians, Īans, Džeks, Šeins, Johans, Hans, Hanss, Ansis, Johaness, Johanness, Johanāns, Haness, Hanness, Ivans, Aivans, Aivens, Aiens	Jana, Janīna, Janīne, Džoana, Džoanna, Džanīna, Dženeta, Johanna, Hanna, Anna
Limburgish	Jan, Johan, Joannes, Hens, Hannes, Sjang
Lithuanian	Jonas
Livonian	Jōņ, Jōņi, Jāņ, Jāņi
Lombard	Giuàn
Luxembourgish	Gehan, Gehanes, Haans, Jann, Jang, Jean
Macedonian	Јован (Jovan), Јованче (Jovanče), Иван (Ivan), Јане (Jane)	Јована (Jovana), Јованка (Jovanka), Ивана (Ivana), Иванка (Ivanka), Јана (Jana)
Malagasy	Jaona, Joany
Malayalam	യോഹന്നാൻ (Yōhannān) ഉലഹന്നാൻ (Ulahannan) ലോനപ്പൻ (Lonappan) നയിനാ൯ (Nainan, Ninan)
Maltese	Ġwanni, Ġanni, Ġann, Ġovann, Ġovanni, Vanni	Ġanna, Ġovanna, Ġannina
Mandaic	Yuhana
Manx	Juan, Ean
Māori	Hoani,[17] Hōne[18]
Marathi	योहान (Yōhāna)
Meitei (Manipuri)	ꯖꯣꯍꯥꯟꯅꯥ (Johanna) ꯖꯣꯍꯥꯟ (Johan)
Mongolian	Иохан (Iokhan)
Montenegrin	Ivan, Janko, Jovan
Navajo	Jáan
Nepali	यूहन्ना (Yūhannā)
Norwegian	Johan, Johannes, John, Jon, Jan, Hans
Northern Sami	Jovnna, Juhán
Occitan	Joan
Persian	یوحنا (Yohannan), یحیی (Yahya), جان (Jaan), جهان (Jahan)
Piedmontese	Gioann
Polish	Jan, Janusz, Janek, Janko, Jaś, Jasiek, Jasiu, Janik, Jancio, Januszek, Janiczek, Janeczek	Janina, Jana, Janka, Jasia, Jaśka, Joanna, Żaneta, Żanna
Portuguese	João	Joana
Punjabi	ਯੂਹੰਨਾ (Yūhanā)
Quechua	Huwan
Romanian	Ioan, Ion, Ionuț, Ionel, Ionică, Nelu, Iancu	Ioana, Ionela
Romansh	Gian, Giovannes
Russian	Иван (Ivan), Иоанн (Ioann, from Hebrew)
Samoan	Ioane	Ioana
Samogitian	Juons
Sardinian	Giuanni, Giuanne, Zuvanne, Zuanne, Nanni, Nanneddu
Scots	Jock, Euan/Ewen/Ewan	Shona
Scottish Gaelic	Iain, Eòin, Seathan, Shean	Seòna, Seònag, Seònaid, Siubhan, Sìne
Serbian	Ivan, Janko, Jovan, Jovica, Vanja	Jovana, Jovanka, Vanja
Shona	Johani
Sicilian	Giuvanni, Giuanni	Giuvanna, Giuanna
Sinhala	ජුවාම් (Juwam), යොහාන් (Yohan)
Slovak	Ján, Johan	Jana, Johana
Slovene	Janez, Ivan, Ivo, Jan, Janko
Somali	Yaxye
Sorbian	Jan
Spanish	Juan, Joan, Giovanni, Iván, Nino	Juana, Joana, Giovanna, Ivana, Nina
Swahili	Yohana
Swedish	Jan, Johan, Johannes, John, Hans, Hannes, Jöns[19]	Johanna, Hanna
Sylheti	ইয়াহিয়া (Iyahiya), জনি (Jony), হান্নান (Hannan)
Syriac	ܝܘܚܢܢ (Yuḥanon), ܚܢܐ (Ḥanna), ܐܝܘܢ (Ewan)
Tagalog	Juan, Dyon
Tajik	Яҳьё (Jahʹjo)
Tamil	யோவான் (Yovaan)
Telugu	యెాహాను Yohanu	యెాహన్న Yohanna
Thai	ยอห์น (Yaawn)
Tigrinya	ዮሓንስ (Yoḥannǝs)
Tongan	Sione
Turkish	Yahya, Yuhanna
Turkmen	Ёханна (Yohanna)
Ukrainian	Іван (Ivan), Іванко (Ivanko), Івась (Ivaś), Ян (Jan), Ясь (Jaś), Ваньо (Vanio)	Іванна (Ivanna), Іванка (Ivanka), Яна (Jana)
Urdu	یوحنا (Yúhanná)
Uzbek	Yahyo
Valencian	Joan	Joana
Venetian	Joàni, Xan, Xane, Zuane
Vietnamese	Dương, Giăng, Gioan
Walloon	Jan, Djihan
Welsh	Evan, Ianto, Ieuan, Ifan, Ioan, Iwan, Siôn	Siân, Sioned, Siwan
West Frisian	Jannes, Jenne
Yiddish	יוחנן‎ (Yoykhonen)
Yoruba	Johanu
Zulu	Johane

Origins of the Name John

The name John originates from the Hebrew name Yochanan, which means “Yahweh is gracious.”

This name was adopted into Greek as Iōannēs and later into Latin as Iohannes.

Its biblical significance—most notably seen in figures like John the Baptist and John the Apostle—helped the name spread throughout the Christian world.

Why is it so common?

The extensive use of the name John in many countries is largely due to the spread of Christianity and the translation of the Bible into numerous languages.

As the name was translated, each culture adapted it to fit their linguistic patterns. Some examples include:

• English: John
• Spanish: Juan
• French: Jean
• Italian: Giovanni
• German: Johann
• Russian: Ivan

What’s the deal with the feminine form of the name?

In many languages, feminine forms of traditionally masculine names were developed to maintain the root meaning while accommodating gender distinctions.

For John, various feminine forms have emerged over time:

• Joanna: Directly derived from the original Hebrew, maintaining the meaning “Yahweh is gracious.”
• Jane: An English diminutive that evolved into a stand-alone name.
• Giovanna: The Italian feminine version of Giovanni.
• Juana: The Spanish feminine form.

These adaptations illustrate how linguistic traditions and cultural practices influence the evolution of names while preserving their original meanings.

Which is your favourite version of the name?