From Hebrew

John comes from the Hebrew Yohanan meaning God is gracious. It is the most enduringly popular boy name in the history of the Western world — borne by 21 popes, 8 Holy Roman Emperors, and rulers of England, France, Scotland, Portugal and Hungary. John the Baptist and John the Apostle gave it unassailable biblical authority. For most of recorded American history, John was the most common male name in the country. Though it has slipped in the rankings in recent decades, it remains in the top 30 and will never truly fall out of use. Some names don't just last — they define the concept of a name.