John

Table of contents

1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Proper noun 1.2.1 Alternative forms 1.2.2 Female equivalents 1.2.3 Diminutives 1.2.4 Synonyms 1.3 Noun 1.3.1 Related English names 1.3.2 Related terms 1.3.3 Translations

English

Etymology

Latin johannes, New Testament Greek Ioanes, contraction from Hebrew Johanas God is gracious; of great importance to early Christianity (John the Baptist, John the Apostle and John the Evangelist)

Proper noun

John

1. A male given name meaning "God's gracious gift".
2. (colloquial) A name used to address a man whose actual name is not known.

Alternative forms

• Jon

Female equivalents

• Jean, Joan, Joanna, Joanne

Diminutives

• Johnnie , Johnny , Jack, Hank

Synonyms

• (name used to address a man whose actual name is not known):
  • (standard): sir
  • (colloquial or slang): boy (especially to a younger man), bro (US), gov or guv (British), guvnor (British), man (especially US), mate (British), mister, son (to a younger man)

Noun

john (plural johns)

1. (slang) A prostitute's client.
2. (slang) A lavatory.

Related English names

• Ian (Scottish)
• Sean (Irish)

Related terms

• John Bull
• John Dory
• John Doe
• John Thomas
• Johnny Reb

Translations

male given name

Dutch: Jan Finnish: Johan French: Jean German: Johannes , Johannes , Hans Irish: Eoin , Sean Italian: Giovanni , Gianni

Japanese: ジョン Latin: Ioannes Portguese: João Romanian: Ioan , Ion Vietnamese: Giôn Spanish: Juan Scottish Gaelic: Iain , Ian , Eoin , Seathan Welsh: Ioan , Ieuan , Sion

name used to address a man whose name is not known