How Many People Are Named John?
Complete statistics for the name John: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
A classic American name, John. 2.76 million people named John live in the U.S., making it 1 in 119. The name peaked in 1947 with 88,524 births.
📖 Meaning & Origin
The life path number 2 traditionally represents harmony and balance.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 74All 5,186,509 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1947Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Declining
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 John Through the Generations
John has been a staple in American culture for over a century, ranking in the top 10 since 1919. Its popularity surged in the mid-20th century but has declined since then. Today, 71% of people named John are over 60, reflecting its strong association with older generations.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
⭐ Famous People Named John
John is a very common given male name in the English language, ultimately of Hebrew origin. Traditionally in the Anglosphere, it was the most common, although it has not been since the latter half of the 20th century. The name is among the most commonly given names in the Anglophone, Arabic, European, Latin American, Iranian, and Turkic countries. The numerous forms of the name in various languages were formerly often simply translated as "John" in English but are increasingly left in their native forms.…
Full list on Wikipedia →🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing John's Hebrew roots
📄 About the Name John
How Many People Have the Name John?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 37,363 people in the United States currently share the name John. That works out to roughly 1 in every 8,871 Americans, placing it in the Uncommon category.
Is John a Common or Rare Name?
John is classified as Uncommon. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name John Mean?
John means "God is gracious" and comes from Hebrew origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 2.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of John in SSA data, approximately 100% are male and 0% are female.
When Was John Most Popular?
The name John reached peak popularity in 1947, with 88,524 babies registered that year. Current trend: Declining.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named John?
Approximately 37,363 people named John live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 37,363. That works out to roughly 1 in 8,871 Americans.
Is John a rare name?
John is classified as Uncommon in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 8,871 Americans has this name.
What does the name John mean?
John means "God is gracious" and comes from Hebrew origins.
Is John more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 100% of people named John are male and 0% are female.
When was John most popular?
John peaked in 1947 with 88,524 births that year. Current trend: Declining.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.