Johannes

Johannes is the Latin and later German and Scandinavian form of the Greek name Ioannes, itself derived from the Hebrew Yohanan, meaning God is gracious. It became one of the most widely used names in Christian Europe through its association with Saint John the Baptist and the apostle John, both central figures in the New Testament. The name gave rise to an enormous family of cognates across languages, including John in English, Jean in French, Giovanni in Italian, Juan in Spanish, Ivan in Slavic languages, and Jan across much of northern Europe. Notable historical bearers include the astronomer Johannes Kepler and the composer Johannes Brahms.