Janez

Janez is the Slovene form of John, ultimately derived from the Hebrew name Yohanan, meaning "Yahweh is gracious." It entered Slovene through the Latin Iohannes and its medieval European descendants, following the same widespread adoption of the name across Christian Europe. The Slovene poet and national icon France Prešeren had a close friend and patron named Janez Bleiweis, reflecting the name's deep roots in Slovenian culture. Related forms include Jan, Ivan, Giovanni, Johann, and Hans.