Rising since 1985, #572 for boys today.
Popularity of Johan since 1910
Babies named Johan per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 52 |
| 1920s | 71 |
| 1930s | 27 |
| 1940s | 37 |
| 1950s | 46 |
| 1960s | 110 |
| 1970s | 197 |
| 1980s | 445 |
| 1990s | 890 |
| 2000s | 4,430 |
| 2010s | 5,363 |
| 2020s | 2,985 |
Meaning & origin
Johan ranks 572 as of 2025, with approximately 1 in 3,310 boys receiving the name. Its peak year was 2016, and it has been steadily rising in popularity since 1985, reflecting growing interest in classic Scandinavian names. The name is most common in states like Nevada, New Jersey, and Maryland, suggesting broader multicultural appeal beyond its traditional Nordic roots. Johan's trajectory indicates a modern revival of a timeless name with deep historical roots in Germanic and Scandinavian cultures.
Johan is a form of John, derived from the Hebrew name Yochanan, meaning 'God is gracious.' It has been widely used across Germanic and Scandinavian cultures since the Middle Ages, often as a given name and surname. In Sweden and Norway, Johan has been consistently popular, while in the Netherlands it is a classic choice.
Where Johan is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Johan” around the world
Where Johan lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
140
babies in 2024
Ireland
4
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Jo, Jonte, Hannes
Sibling names for Johan
Names that share Johan's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Johan
Names whose popularity has moved with Johan's over the last 50 years.
