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ETYMOLOGY:

John is the English form of a Hebrew name, Yohanan, Johanan or Yochanan meaning "God is gracious".

ORIGIN & HISTORY:

The main association with this name biblically is that of John the Apostle (sometimes identified with John the evangelist), he was one of the apostles of Jesus (the twelve disciples). In Christianity he is credited with the authorship of the Gospel of John, all or parts of the Book of Revelations and other works in the New Testament. The extent of this authorship is debated among scholars and faiths.

Traditionally he is believed to be the only disciple to have lived to be an old man, he was not martyred and was also the first disciple to believe that Jesus had truly been resurrected.
Most of Christianity holds him as a saint, the Roman Catholic Church commemorates him on December the 27th and the Eastern Orthodox Church commemorates him on September 26th and May the 8th.

Another famous biblical figure is Saint John the Baptist, so called because he performed the baptism of Jesus.

POPULARITY:

From 1990 to 1919 John was the most popular name for new born baby boys in the United States, although it has declined in popularity it remains very common and in 2006 John was the twentieth most popular name for new born baby boys in the US.

In England and Wales the name was ranked 74th in popularity in 2007, up slightly from 2006 when it ranked 75th.

The name is also popular in Australia.

FASCINATING FACTS:

Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious was born as Simon John Ritchie and while he was living with John Lydon (Johnny Rotten), John Wardle and John Gray the four were occasionally called The Four Johns.

NAMESAKES:

John the Ripper, a free password cracking tool originally developed for the UNIX operating system.

Fictional characters;

Dr John H. Watson is the friend and biographer of the famous detective Sherlock Holmes in the stories penned by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

FAMOUS PERSONS:

John Milton (born December 9th 1608), an English poet best known for his epic work Paradise Lost. Many people regard Milton as the greatest English poet.

John, King of England (born 24th December 1166), succeeded Richard 1 or Richard the Lionheart.

John Ono Lennon (born 9th October 1940), an English rock musician famous for being a member of The Beatles, Lennon was also known for his promotion of peace.

NAME VARIANTS:

John has 85 variant forms: Anno, Ean, Eian, Eion, Euan, Evan, Ewan, Ewen, Gian, Giannes, Gianni, Giannis, Giannos, Giovanni, Hannes, Hanno, Hans, Hanschen, Hansel, Hansl, Iain, Ian, Ioannes, Ioannis, Ivan, Ivann, Iwan, Jack, Jackie, Jacky, Jan, Jancsi, Janek, Janko, Janne, Janos, Jean, Heanno, Jeannot, Jehan, Jenkin, Jenkins, Jens, Jian, Jianni, Joannes, Joao, Jock, Jocko, Johan, Johanan, Johann, Johannes, John-Carlo, John-Michael, Johnn, Johon, Johnie, Johnnie, Johnny, John-Patrick, John-Paul, Jon, Jona, Jonnie, Jovan, Jovanney, Jovanney, Jovanni, Jovonni, Juan, Juanito, Juwan, Sean, Seann, Shane, Shaughn, Shaun, Shawn, Vanek, Vanko, Vanya, Yanni, Yanno and Zane.

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