UK boy's name
Johann
A masculine given name of Germanic origin meaning "God is gracious".
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.
Johann is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Johann popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3254, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2012, with 20 births.
This profile covers 271 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 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 30% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 269 living people in the UK are called Johann. 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
- • Johann ranked #3254 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 6 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2012, when 20 boys were registered as Johann.
- • About 269 living people in the UK are estimated to have Johann as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3254
2024
Births in 2024
6
Latest year
Peak year
2012
20 births
Estimated living
269
2026
Meaning
What does Johann mean?
The name Johann has its origins in the Hebrew language and culture, derived from the name Yochanan meaning "Yahweh is gracious." This name later evolved into the Greek form Ioannes and the Latin Johannes.
The name Johann gained widespread popularity across Europe during the Middle Ages, particularly in Germanic regions. It became a common name among Germans, Austrians, and Dutch, with variations such as Hans, Hannes, and Jan.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Johann can be found in the Bible's New Testament, where John the Baptist and John the Apostle are mentioned. The name also appears in various medieval manuscripts and historical records from the 9th century onwards.
Throughout history, numerous notable individuals have borne the name Johann. One of the most renowned is Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), the legendary German composer and musician whose works have had a profound impact on Western classical music.
Another famous Johann is Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832), a German writer, poet, and philosopher who is widely regarded as one of the greatest literary figures of the modern era. His works, such as "Faust" and "The Sorrows of Young Werther," have left an indelible mark on literature.
Johann Gutenberg (c. 1400-1468), the German inventor credited with the introduction of the printing press with movable type, revolutionized the spread of knowledge and facilitated the Renaissance by making books more accessible.
In the realm of science, Johann Kepler (1571-1630), a German mathematician, astronomer, and astrologer, is renowned for his laws of planetary motion and contributions to the scientific revolution.
Finally, Johann Strauss (1825-1899), an Austrian composer known as the "Waltz King," composed numerous waltzes, polkas, and operettas that became synonymous with Viennese culture and remain beloved to this day.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Johann over time
The chart below shows babies named Johann registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 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 Johann, the clearest high point is 2012. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2024, compared with 20 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Johann by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Johann 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 | #2777 | 37 | 5 |
| 2010s | #2031 | 115 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2047 | 89 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1589 | 30 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Johann
- 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
Johann: questions and answers
How popular is the name Johann in the UK right now?
In 2024, Johann was ranked #3254 for boys in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.
When was Johann most popular?
The peak year on record was 2012, with 20 babies registered as Johann in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Johann?
A masculine given name of Germanic origin meaning "God is gracious".
How many people are called Johann in the UK?
A total of 271 babies have been registered as Johann across the 29 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.