Find out how popular the first name Ioannis has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Ioannis by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Ioannis is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 20 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Ioannis.

The history of the first name Ioannis

The given name Ioannis has its origins in the Greek language and culture, and it can be traced back to the Hellenistic period of ancient Greece. It is derived from the Hebrew name Yochanan, which means "Yahweh is gracious." The name Ioannis is a transliteration of the Greek form of the name, Ioannes.

The name Ioannis appears frequently in the New Testament of the Bible, as it was the name of several significant figures, including John the Baptist and John the Apostle. In the Gospel of John, the name Ioannis is used to refer to John the Baptist, who baptized Jesus in the Jordan River.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Ioannis dates back to the 4th century AD, when Ioannis Chrysostomos, also known as John Chrysostom (347-407), was a prominent Christian bishop and preacher in the Byzantine Empire. He is renowned for his eloquence and is considered one of the greatest preachers in the history of Christianity.

In the 6th century, Ioannis Philoponos (490-570) was a prominent philosopher, grammarian, and Christian theologian who made significant contributions to the fields of physics and logic. He was one of the first scholars to challenge the ideas of Aristotle and paved the way for the development of modern science.

During the Byzantine period, the name Ioannis was also borne by several emperors, including Ioannis I Tzimiskes (925-976), who ruled from 969 to 976 and is known for his military campaigns against the Muslims and the Bulgarians.

In the 20th century, Ioannis Metaxas (1871-1941) was a prominent Greek military officer and politician who served as the Prime Minister of Greece from 1936 to 1941. He is known for his authoritarian rule and for his role in leading Greece during the early years of World War II.

Another notable figure with the name Ioannis is Ioannis Kapodistrias (1776-1831), a Greek statesman and diplomat who served as the first head of state of independent Greece after the Greek War of Independence. He is considered one of the most prominent political figures in modern Greek history.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Ioannis was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Ioannis, please contact us.

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