Where does the name Johnny come from?

Johnny is a boy name of Hebrew origin.

Is Johnny a boy or a girl name?

Johnny is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 1% of children given the name Johnny are girls and 99% are boys.

How popular is the name Johnny in 2023?

Johnny ranks #435 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1947 with 7,497 babies.

How do you pronounce Johnny?

Johnny is pronounced JON-ee (2 syllables).

What are common spellings of Johnny?

Johnny is also written as Johnnie, Johny, Jonny.

A name from Hebrew · Boy

Johnny

A diminutive of John, from Hebrew Yochanan meaning 'God is gracious'. American to its core — the everyman name of country songs, baseball cards, and 20th-century rock.

Compare

Popularity over time

A 143-year arc in numbers.

316,551 U.S. births recorded from 1880–2023.

Popularity · 1880–2023

718 births in 2023

1880 1951 2023

Babies named per year Peak year Most recent

Meaning

A name that means something.

JA diminutive of John, from Hebrew Yochanan meaning 'God is gracious'. American to its core — the everyman name of country songs, baseball cards, and 20th-century rock.

Variants & spellings

3 ways to spell "Johnny".

Each transliteration carries a slightly different cultural fingerprint.

Johnnie Most common Johny Jonny

Famous bearers

People who carry the name Johnny.

J
Johnny Cash (country legend)
J
Johnny Carson (TV host)
J
Johnny Depp (actor)

Quick answers

People often ask about Johnny.

What does the name Johnny mean?: Johnny means a diminutive of John, from Hebrew Yochanan meaning 'God is gracious'. American to its core — the everyman name of country songs, baseball cards, and 20th-century rock.
Where does the name Johnny come from?: Johnny is a boy name of Hebrew origin.
Is Johnny a boy or a girl name?: Johnny is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 1% of children given the name Johnny are girls and 99% are boys.
How popular is the name Johnny in 2023?: Johnny ranks #435 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1947 with 7,497 babies.
How do you pronounce Johnny?: Johnny is pronounced JON-ee (2 syllables).
What are common spellings of Johnny?: Johnny is also written as Johnnie, Johny, Jonny.

Similar names

If you love Johnny, also consider…

James

Boy ·Hebrew

Supplanter; one who follows

Michael

#16

Boy ·Hebrew

Who is like God? A rhetorical name honoring the archangel

Mary

#133

Girl ·Hebrew

Bitter; beloved; wished-for child

God is my oath; consecrated to God

About this page

Popularity counts come from the U.S. Social Security Administration's national dataset. Meanings and origins are curated from etymological sources. If you spot an error, please let us know.