John
Boy / Girl name · 29,180 babies recorded · 1974–2025
John: 29,180 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to both boys and girls, peaking at 1,528 births in 1974.
A classic name of Hebrew origin, John comes from Yohanan, meaning "God is gracious," and entered English through the Latin Johannes and Old French Jehan. Its enduring popularity owes much to biblical figures such as John the Baptist and John the Apostle, while modern bearers include the pioneering musician John Lennon and the 35th U.S. President John F. Kennedy. The name is woven into Scotland’s geography too: John o' Groats marks the country's northeastern tip, a name thought to derive from a Dutchman, Jan de Groot. A Scottish variant, Ian, offers a more distinctively local alternative, while the name itself has consistently been one of the most frequent choices for boys in Scotland for generations.
Boy 52 of 52 years
- Peak year
- 19741,528 babies
- Latest (2025)
- #10250 babies
- Total births
- 29,177since 1974
- 5-year trend
- ▼ 35%vs prior 5y
Girl 1 of 52 years
- Peak year
- 19883 babies
- Latest (1988)
- #5773 babies
- Total births
- 3since 1988
- 5-year trend
- ≈ stablevs prior 5y