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?
Janis K Ecker says
I love maps a kinds. I enjoyed the map of John. It was interesting to see the name Janis as a masculine name on this map as my name is Janis and I am female
Laurie Cocchrane says
Why is the Mexican derivation not included?
Marjaana says
Once more: Juhana is the female version of the name. Juhani is the male, so that should be on the map.
Gareth Roberts says
Evan isn’t really a Welsh form of John. It’s an anglicisation of Iefan or Ifan, which are Welsh forms of the name (among others, as your table suggests)! Evan is not even a common first name among English speakers in Wales; the surname Evans is quite common, but that’s an anglicisation of names like Ifans, ultimately from Ap Ifan (“Ifan’s son”). I’d guess that Siôn is probably the most common Welsh equivalent to John nowadays, though there are a fair few Ieuans and Ifans. Female equivalents like Siân and Sioned are also quite common. Evan is not.