One of the most popular boys’ names in the English-speaking world overall, the name John has been in use for centuries. Its classic simplicity still appeals to parents in the US, the UK, and Australia. It’s also used in other countries where it’s been introduced via the English language only recently – for example, in France and Brazil.
So, what does this popular name mean and what is the history behind it?
Origin and Meaning of the Name
John means “God’s grace” in Hebrew. It is a contracted form of the Hebrew name Yochanan “God is gracious” from the Hebrew yo “Jehovah (the Hebrew name for God)” and chanan “grace, graciousness”. In the Bible, there are several characters who are called John. One of the first mentioned is Jehohanan, one of King David's warriors. John is the spelling normally used in the New Testament. The name was very important in early Christianity: it was borne by John the Baptist and by the author of the fourth gospel (John the Evangelist).
The Appearance of Christ to the People. Aleksandr Andreevich Ivanov
History and Popularity
The
name John became known in Europe through Christianity. Its various European
forms were usually derived from the Greek form Ioannes (Ἰωάννης), because most of the letters
and accounts that form the New Testament were written in Greek. Johannes, along
with its forms Johan and Johann, is still the standard form of John in Germanic
countries like Denmark, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and
Switzerland.
Johannes could still be found in the United States among German immigrants until WWI when German names rapidly went out of favor.
John IV Laskaris and Pope John XXII, 1316
John was also a royal name, borne by Byzantine emperors, popes, and by kings of Hungary, Poland, Portugal, France, etc. In its various forms in different languages, it has been the most perennially popular of all Christian names.
St. John the Evangelist’s symbol, the Eagle, in the Book of Dimma, late 8th century, Irish
During
the Anglo-Saxon period of English history, John was a rare, religious name. It was
mostly used in the territories presided over by the Eastern Orthodox Church. After
the First Crusade, the name gradually gained popularity in Western Europe. In
England it became extremely popular in the later Middle Ages. It is estimated
that John and William took turns being the number one name in England and English-speaking
North America from around 1550 until the middle of the twentieth century.
John was the most popular name given to boys in the United States until 1924, gradually dropping to its current place as the 26th most common boys’ name. Variations of the name John, such as Ian and Jon (which is often seen as a form of John, although it started as a short form of Jonathan), have gained in popularity.
Trivia
- There were 21 legitimate popes named John, 8 Byzantine emperors, 4 American Presidents, and numerous monarchs of England, France, Sweden, Denmark, Poland, Portugal, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Russia.
- In the UK, the name John has never been a popular royal name. King John (1166-1216) signed the Magna Carta in 1215, which limited the king’s powers; Prince Alexander John, the youngest son of King Edward VII, died shortly after birth, and Prince John, the youngest son of King George V, suffered from epilepsy. These are some of the reasons why the name John has been considered unlucky by the British royal family. It was reported that Diana, Princess of Wales wished to name her elder son "John", after her own father, but was prevented from doing so by royal tradition.
- The traditional symbol of John the Evangelist is an eagle.
- Dr. John H. Watson is the name of Sherlock Holmes’ friend and biographer in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s novels and stories featuring Sherlock Holmes. Long John Silver is the main antagonist in Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Treasure Island”.
- John Doe or John Smith is a placeholder name for when a person’s name is unknown or intentionally left unrevealed. The similar term John Q. Public means "average American citizen," in use since at least 1934.
- A
Dear John letter is the term for a letter written by a woman to her boyfriend
or husband to tell him that their relationship is over (and typically also that
she’s found someone else).
- Famous people named John include John Lennon (1940-1980), English rock musician, songwriter, and member of The Beatles, John Legend (1978-), American singer-songwriter, John Steinbeck (1902-1968), American novelist, and John Travolta (1954-), American actor.
- Famous bearers of the name Johannes include Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of the printing press, the astronomer Johannes Kepler (1571-1630), and the composer Johannes Brahms (1833-1897).
- Johannes (or joe) is also the name of an 18th century Portuguese gold coin, called so because it featured the portrait of John V of Portugal[1].
- A name book from the 1900s describes the character of the name John as: “Ingenuous, trusting, and honest. Prefers sport to work.[2].”
- Overall, John seems to enjoy an excellent reputation in most books exploring possible connections between names and character. “The name John represents wonderful characteristics once he matures, for he is independent, responsible, a good worker, and knows how to nurture others. John is self-directed, fair, and has a sense of humour;” “The name John also carries the ability to hold grudges and to be overly concerned with details[3].”
Sources:
Behind the Name, https://www.behindthename.com/name/john
Know the Name; Know the Person. 2012 CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. Sharon Lynn Wyeth, ISBN 978-1-47518-1845
The Wordsworth Dictionary of First Names. Iseabail Macleod & Terry Freedman. Wordsworth, 1995. ISBN 1-85326-366-4
The Meanings of Christian Names. Anonymous. Duff Press, 2011. ISBN 1446536440, 9781446536445
What is a “Dear John”? Revealing the untold story of wartime breakup letters. Susan L. Carruthers. https://www.cambridgeblog.org/2022/01/what-is-a-dear-john/
No comments:
Post a Comment