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Name Lineage

    The first name Johan

    A girl’s name from Hebrew.

    2 syllables Female

    Meaning and origin

    Hebrew origin

    An archaic variant of Joan, from Old French Johan, from Latin Johanna. Cf. John.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 30 boys were named Johan, making it the 1,007th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2013, with 47 births (#692).

    02550 1996200020052010201520202025
    746
    babies named Johan, 1996–2025
    #1,007
    rank in 2025
    2013
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Johan with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Johan at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 516 boys born in the United States were named Johan, the 572nd most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2016, when 659 were.

    0350700 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    14,788
    babies named Johan since 1880
    #572
    rank in 2025
    2016
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Famous people named Johan

    196 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Johan Cruyff
      Dutch footballer and manager (1947–2016)
    • Johan Ludvig Runeberg
      Finland’s national poet, author of Finland’s national anthem, Swedish-speaking writer and , 1804–1877
    • Johan Huizinga
      Dutch cultural historian (1872–1945)
    • Johan Neeskens
      Dutch football manager and player (1951–2024)
    • Johan Gadolin
      Finnish chemist, physicist and mineralogist (1760–1852)
    • Johan Rudolph Thorbecke
      Dutch statesman (1798-1872)
    • Johan Ferrier
      Dutch-Surinamese politician (1910-2010)
    • Johan Vilhelm Snellman
      Finnish politician and author (1806–1881)
    • Johan Nygaardsvold
      21st Prime Minister of Norway, 1879–1952
    • Johan Vonlanthen
      Footballer, born 1986
    • Johan Laidoner
      Estonian general and politician (1884-1953)
    • Johan Mojica
      Colombian association football player, born 1992

    More Hebrew girls’ names

    All 346 names of Hebrew origin

    Questions

    What does the name Johan mean?
    An archaic variant of Joan, from Old French Johan, from Latin Johanna. Cf. John.
    What is the origin of the name Johan?
    An archaic variant of Joan, from Old French Johan, from Latin Johanna. Cf. John.
    How popular is the name Johan?
    In 2025, 30 boys born in England and Wales were named Johan, ranking 1,007th. Its peak was 2013, with 47 births.
    Is Johan a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 99% of the 14,788 US babies named Johan since 1880 were boys.
    When was Johan most popular?
    2016 in the United States, when 659 babies were named Johan, its highest rank at 463rd.