Declining since 2011, #1,852 for boys today.
Popularity of Johann since 1912
Babies named Johann per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 5 | 21 |
| 1920s | 67 | 5 |
| 1930s | 197 | 0 |
| 1940s | 141 | 21 |
| 1950s | 80 | 88 |
| 1960s | 50 | 161 |
| 1970s | 48 | 361 |
| 1980s | 33 | 405 |
| 1990s | 19 | 472 |
| 2000s | 10 | 1,257 |
| 2010s | 0 | 1,570 |
| 2020s | 0 | 508 |
Meaning & origin
The name Johann has been in use in the United States since at least 1912, reflecting German immigration patterns. Its popularity peaked in 2010, and since then it has been gradually declining, with its rank falling to 1852 in 2025. About 1 in 20,095 boys received the name that year. The name is most common in states with strong German heritage, such as New Jersey, New York, and Illinois, according to Social Security data. While not a top contender nationally, Johann offers a classic, understated alternative to more common names like John or Jonathan.
Johann is a German form of John, derived from the Hebrew name Yochanan meaning 'Yahweh is gracious.' It has been in use in German-speaking regions since the Middle Ages, often in compound names like Johann Sebastian. The name remains common in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
Where Johann 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.
“Johann” around the world
Where Johann lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
40
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Hans, Hannes, Jo
Sibling names for Johann
Names that share Johann's style, for a brother or sister.
