National John Day is celebrated annually on September 25. John is a male name of Hebrew/ Semitic origin. A derivative of the Hebrew ‘Yochanan,’ it means ‘graced by Yahweh,’ ‘Yahweh is merciful,’ or ‘Yahweh is gracious.’ Yochanan itself is the contracted form of the longer ‘Yehochanan.’ The Latin form of the name is ‘Iohannes’ or ‘Ioannes,’ derived from the Greek ‘Ioannis’ originally borne by Hellenized Jews. In Anglophone, Arabic, Turkish, European, Latin American, and Persian countries, John is one of the most common given names.
History of National John Day
John is a Hebrew male name. It derives from the Hebrew ‘Yochanan,’ meaning ‘graced by Yahweh,’ ‘Yahweh is merciful,’ or ‘Yahweh is gracious.’ Yahweh is the name of God. Yochanan is the contracted form of the longer ‘Yehochanan.’ The Latin form of the name is ‘Iohannes’ or ‘Ioannes,’ derived from the Greek ‘Ioannis’ originally borne by Hellenized Jews. In Anglophone, Arabic, Turkish, European, Latin American, and Persian countries, John is one of the most common first names. Its popularity is due, in large part, to two men mentioned in the Bible, namely John the Baptist and John the Beloved, a disciple of Jesus the Christ. Several books of the Bible were written by John the Apostle including the Gospel of John and the Book of Revelations.In the United States, the name John held the number one spot from 1900 to 1923, remaining in the top five up until 1972. It wasn’t until 1973 that it fell to sixth place. Between 2000 and 2021, John was still popular as it ranked at number 14. In 2021, the name fell to 27th on the most popular male names list where the number of children given this name was 8,130, accounting for 0.437% of total males born in that year.Several presidents of the United States have John as their first name. Additionally, several kings have been named John such as John Lackland, King of England from 1199 to 1216. John I, also known as ‘John of Aviz’ was King of Portugal from 1385 until the time of his death in 1433. Furthermore, John reigned as King of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway from 1481 to 1513.
National John Day timeline
John Lackland is crowned King of England.
John remains the most popular male name in the United States.
John becomes the sixth most popular male name in the U.S.
John becomes the 27th most popular male name in the U.S.
National John Day FAQs
Who was John the Baptist?
John the Baptist was the forerunner in Christianity and the earthly cousin of Jesus Christ.
What are the most popular male names in the U.S.?
In 2021, the five most popular male names in the U.S. were Liam, Noah, Oliver, Elijah, and James.
What are the most popular female names in the U.S.?
The top five female names in the U.S. in 2021 were Olivia, Emma, Charlotte, Amelia, and Ava.
National John Day Activities
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Celebrate John
Show your appreciation to anyone you know whose name is John. Tell them what makes their name so special.
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Research
Many great figures in history have proudly borne the name ‘John.’ Take the time to perform a little research on some of these historical figures.
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Use the hashtag
Create awareness about the day with other people online. Share this article and use the hashtag #nationaljohnday.
5 Presidents Named John
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John Adams
Born in 1735, John Adams served as the second President of the United States of America.
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John Quincy Adams
Born in 1767, John Quincy Adams was the son of former president John Adams and also served as the sixth President of the United States.
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John Tyler
Born in 1790, John Tyler served as the 10th President of the United States from 1841 to 1845.
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Andrew Johnson
Born in 1808, Andrew Johnson served as the 17th President of the United States from 1865 to 1869.
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John Fitzgerald Kennedy
Born May 29, 1917, John F. Kennedy was the 35th President of the United States from 1961 until his assassination in 1963.
Why We Love National John Day
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John is biblical
John is a religious name. As such, it is significant to people of the Christian faith because of the mighty men who proudly had that name.
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John has lovely meaning
What’s more beautiful than the interpretation of ‘Yahweh is gracious?’ For believers, this name is powerfully soulful.
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John is pedigreed
Throughout history, influential people have been named John. Kings, presidents, and other powerful individuals have boosted the prestige and reputation of the name.
National John Day dates
Year | Date | Day |
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2023 | September 25 | Monday |
2024 | September 25 | Wednesday |
2025 | September 25 | Thursday |
2026 | September 25 | Friday |
2027 | September 25 | Saturday |