The name Geovanni derives from the Italian form of the Latin name Johannes, meaning "Yahweh is gracious." It is a variation of the name Giovanni, which gained widespread usage in Italy during the Middle Ages, particularly in regions like Tuscany and Umbria.

The name's roots can be traced back to ancient Hebrew, where it originated as Yohanan or Yehohanan, a compound name combining the elements "Yahweh" (the Hebrew name for God) and "hanan" (to be gracious or merciful). This name was later Latinized as Iohannes during the Roman era.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Geovanni can be found in the 13th century, when a Florentine nobleman named Geovanni di Simone lived in the city of Florence. He is mentioned in historical records as a prominent figure in the city's political and cultural life during that period.

In the 14th century, a famous Italian painter and architect, Geovanni di Balduccio, was born in Pisa around 1330. His notable works include the frescoes in the Basilica of San Petronio in Bologna, which he completed in the late 1300s.

Another prominent figure with the name Geovanni was Geovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, a renowned Italian Renaissance composer who lived from 1525 to 1594. He is considered one of the most influential composers of sacred music in the 16th century and is often referred to as the "Prince of Music."

In the 17th century, Geovanni Battista Riccioli, an Italian astronomer and philosopher, made significant contributions to the scientific community. Born in 1598, he is best known for his work on lunar nomenclature, where he named many of the features on the Moon's surface.

Another notable figure was Geovanni Domenico Cassini, an Italian mathematician, astronomer, and engineer who lived from 1625 to 1712. He made important discoveries about the planet Saturn and its moons, and the Cassini Division in Saturn's rings is named after him.

While the name Geovanni has its roots in Italy, it has since been adopted and used in various cultures and languages around the world, albeit with slight variations in spelling and pronunciation.