Gender Masculine
Usage French
Pronounced Pron. ZHAHN  [key·IPA]

Meaning & History

Modern French form of Jehan, the Old French form of Iohannes (see John). Since the 12th century it has consistently been the most common male name in France. It finally dropped from the top rank in 1958, unseated by Philippe.

The French philosophers Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) and Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980) were two well-known bearers of this name. It was also borne by the German-French Dadaist artist Jean Arp (1886-1966).

Related Names

DiminutiveJeannot
Feminine FormJeanne
Other Languages & CulturesGjon(Albanian) Yohannes(Amharic) Yahya, Yuhanna(Arabic) Hovhannes, Hovik, Hovo, Ohannes(Armenian) Xuan(Asturian) Ion, Jon, Ganix, Iban, Juantxo(Basque) Ivan, Yan(Belarusian) Jehohanan, Johanan, John(Biblical) Ioannes(Biblical Greek) Yehochanan, Yochanan(Biblical Hebrew) Iohannes(Biblical Latin) Yann, Yanick, Yannic, Yannick, Yannig(Breton) Ioan, Ivan, Yoan, Ivo, Vancho, Yanko(Bulgarian) Joan, Jan(Catalan) Jowan(Cornish) Ghjuvan, Ghjuvanni(Corsican) Ivan, Ivica, Ivo, Janko(Croatian) Ivan, Jan, Hanuš, Honza, Janek(Czech) Ivan, Jan, Jens, Johan, Johannes, Jon, Hans, Jannick, Jannik, John(Danish) Jan, Johan, Johannes, Hanne, Hannes, Hans, Jo, John, Joop(Dutch) Evan, Ian, Ivan, John, Sean, Shane, Shaun, Shawn, Shon, Hank, Jack, Jackie, Jake, Johnie, Johnnie, Johnny, Jon, Shayne(English) Johano, Joĉjo(Esperanto) Ivan, Jaan, Johannes, Juhan, Ants, Hannes, Janek(Estonian) Jóannes, Jógvan, Jóhannes, Jón(Faroese) Jone(Fijian) Jani, Johannes, Joni, Jouni, Juhana, Juhani, Hannes, Hannu, Janne, Juha, Juho, Jukka, Jussi(Finnish) Xan, Xoán(Galician) Ivane, Ioane, Vano(Georgian) Jan, Johann, Johannes, Hannes, Hans, Hänsel, Jo(German) Giannis, Ioannis, Yannis, Yiannis, Gianis, Yanis, Yanni, Yianni(Greek) Keoni(Hawaiian) Yochanan(Hebrew) Iván, János, Jancsi, Jani(Hungarian) Jens, Jóhann, Jóhannes, Jón, Hannes(Icelandic) Yohanes(Indonesian) Eoin, Seán, Sean, Shane(Irish) Giovanni, Ivan, Ivano, Gian, Gianni, Giannino, Giò, Nino, Vanni(Italian) Johannes, Joannes(Late Roman) Ivans, Jānis(Latvian) Sjang, Sjeng(Limburgish) Hansel(Literature) Jonas(Lithuanian) Ivan, Jovan, Ivo, Jovica, Vancho, Vančo(Macedonian) Ġwann(Maltese) Ean, Juan(Manx) Hann, Jan, Jon, Hankin, Jackin, Jankin(Medieval English) Jehan(Medieval French) Zuan(Medieval Italian) Ivan, Jan, Jens, Johan, Johannes, Jon, Hans, Jo, John, Jone(Norwegian) Joan(Occitan) Yahya(Persian) Iwan, Jan, Janek, Janusz(Polish) Ivan, João, Joãozinho(Portuguese) Ioan, Ion, Ivan, Iancu, Ionel, Ionuț, Nelu(Romanian) Ioann, Ivan, Vanya(Russian) Juhán(Sami) Sione(Samoan) Giuanne, Juanne(Sardinian) Ian, Jock(Scottish) Eòin, Iain, Seoc(Scottish Gaelic) Ivan, Jovan, Ivica, Ivo, Janko, Jovica(Serbian) Ivan, Ján, Janko(Slovak) Ivan, Jan, Janez, Žan, Anže, Anžej, Ivo, Janko(Slovene) Jan(Sorbian) Iván, Juan, Ibán, Juancho, Juanito(Spanish) Jhon, Jhonny(Spanish (Latin American)) Ivan, Jan, Jens, Johan, Johannes, Jon, Hampus, Hannes, Hans, Hasse, Janne, John, Jöns(Swedish) Sione(Tongan) Yahya(Turkish) Ivan(Ukrainian) Evan, Ieuan, Ioan, Siôn, Ianto, Iefan, Ifan, Iwan(Welsh)
Surname DescendantJean(French)
Same SpellingJean 2

Popularity

People think this name is

classic   mature   formal   wholesome   strong   refined   simple   serious  

Name Days

France: March 8
France: August 19
France: October 23
France: December 27

Images

14th-century painting of King Jean (John) II of France14th-century painting of King Jean (John) II of France

Categories

Entry updated December 14, 2019