UK boy's name
Joban
A unique variation of the masculine name John or Johan.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Joban is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Joban popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2443, with 9 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 10 births.
This profile covers 118 England and Wales registrations across 18 recorded years from 2005 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 90% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 117 living people in the UK are called Joban. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Joban ranked #2443 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 9 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2011, when 10 boys were registered as Joban.
- • About 117 living people in the UK are estimated to have Joban as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2443
2024
Births in 2024
9
Latest year
Peak year
2011
10 births
Estimated living
117
2026
Meaning
What does Joban mean?
The given name Joban has its origins in the Hebrew language and culture. It is believed to be derived from the biblical figure Job, whose name in Hebrew is pronounced as "Iyyov." The name is thought to be related to the Hebrew word "ayab," which means "to be hostile" or "to be an enemy."
Joban is a variation of the name Job, which appears in the Book of Job in the Hebrew Bible. The Book of Job is a poetic narrative that explores the themes of suffering, faith, and the nature of divine justice. Job, the central character, is a righteous man who endures immense suffering and challenges but ultimately remains steadfast in his faith.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Joban can be found in the Septuagint, the earliest known Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, dating back to the third century BCE. In this translation, the name Job is rendered as "Iob" or "Iōb," which is closer to the Hebrew pronunciation.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Joban or variations of it. One of the earliest was Joban of Reculver, a 7th-century Anglo-Saxon abbot and saint from Kent, England. Another was Joban of Gascony, a 12th-century French troubadour and crusader.
In the 16th century, Joban Baptista Agnese was an Italian cartographer and map-maker who produced some of the earliest modern maps of the world. Around the same time, Joban Ferrer was a Spanish Renaissance painter and sculptor known for his religious works.
In more recent history, Joban Singh (1870-1942) was an Indian revolutionary and freedom fighter who played a significant role in the Indian independence movement against British colonial rule.
While the name Joban has its roots in ancient Hebrew culture and biblical texts, it has been adapted and used across various cultures and time periods, reflecting the diverse ways in which names can evolve and take on new meanings over time.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Joban over time
The chart below shows babies named Joban registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2005 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Joban, the clearest high point is 2011. The latest England and Wales figure is 9 births in 2024, compared with 10 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Joban by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Joban was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #2850 | 28 | 4 |
| 2010s | #2724 | 73 | 10 |
| 2000s | #3603 | 17 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Joban
- Jack 188,738
- Joshua 145,192
- James 141,878
- Joseph 102,259
- Jacob 93,754
- Jake 66,896
- Jamie 41,243
- Jordan 36,750
- Jayden 28,921
- Jude 24,156
- John 22,240
- Joe 19,164
FAQ
Joban: questions and answers
How popular is the name Joban in the UK right now?
In 2024, Joban was ranked #2443 for boys in England and Wales, with 9 births registered.
When was Joban most popular?
The peak year on record was 2011, with 10 babies registered as Joban in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Joban?
A unique variation of the masculine name John or Johan.
How many people are called Joban in the UK?
A total of 118 babies have been registered as Joban across the 18 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.