Johnny

Etymology & Historical Origin of the Baby Name Johnny

Johnny is a pet form of John which has become an independently given name in its own right. John is the anglicized version of the Latin “Iohannes”, the Greek “Iōannēs” and the Hebrew “Yochanan” all of which translate to ‘Yahweh (God) is gracious’ or ‘God is generous’. John is a name that originated in the Old Testament (or Hebrew Bible) as one of King David’s mighty men. However, John owes most of its popularity in usage to two prominent New Testament figures: John the Baptist and John the Apostle. Therefore, John has traditionally been a name of great importance since early Christianity. John the Baptist (like Jesus) was born under miraculous circumstances. The angel Gabriel appeared to his father (Zechariah) claiming that God will give his barren wife (Elizabeth) a son (John) to help prepare the way for the Messiah (Jesus). “And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and lived in the wilderness until he became manifest to Israel.” [Luke 1:80]. John the Baptist had the distinction of baptizing Jesus himself in the River Jordan. John the Apostle was a fisherman, the brother of James, and a follower of Christ. He is most known as one of the authors of the four gospels of the New Testament. John’s gospel focuses on Jesus as the “Eternal One of from heaven” and is considerably more theological and philosophical than the other three gospels. John is a name with many forms: Sean (Irish), Ian (Scottish), Giovanni (Italian), Jean (French), Juan (Spanish), Johann (German), Jan (Dutch), and Ivan (Russian). The name was reintroduced to Western Europeans after the First Crusade (11th century) by the Eastern Christians from the Byzantium Empire. From that point on, John became a wildly popular choice among the English, bestowed upon one in every five boys by the later Middle Ages. John has been borne by 23 Roman Catholic popes, eight Byzantium Emperors, scores of saints, many kings and several U.S. Presidents. In all of its many forms in various languages, John has been a perennial favorite. In the English-speaking world, John is arguably the most successful name ever.

All About the Baby Name – Johnny

Personality

OF THE BOY NAME JOHNNY

The number Five personality loves the excitement of life and can easily adapt to all situations. As natural adventurers, these personalities thrive on the new and unexpected and prefer to be in constant motion. It makes them feel alive. They'll stir up some action if there's not enough around, and as inherent risk-takers they enjoy pushing the envelope. Naturally rebellious, the Five personality has no fear and never resists change. Traveling and new experiences feed their souls. Fives are very social and attract friends with ease. People love to be around the Five fun-loving and exciting energy. This is also a lucky number in numerology (like the Threes), so fortune seems to shine on them, helped along by their own optimism and good-nature. Fives have a quick wit, a cerebral mind, and are generally very persuasive.

Popularity

OF THE BOY NAME JOHNNY

Even though we think of Johnny as a nickname for John, it has actually been an independently given name in the United States for well over a century. And a very popular one at that! Obviously, the name has piggybacked off the success of his more gown-up counterpart, John. This pet form of John was actually a Top 100 favorite boy’s name between the years 1932 and 1977 – pretty impressive for a nickname! Johnny is a lighter, less serious version of John. It’s friendly and energetic and brings to mind happy-go-lucky little boys and fun-loving older men. Johnny will always sound like a nickname rather than a stand-alone given name, but who’s to say John isn’t a nickname for Johnny?

Quick Facts

ON JOHNNY

GENDER:

Boy

ORIGIN:

English

NUMBER OF SYLLABLES:

RANKING POPULARITY:

267

PRONUNCIATION:

JAHN-ee

SIMPLE MEANING:

God is gracious

Characteristics

OF JOHNNY

Freedom-loving

Adventurous

Adaptable

Intellectual

Easygoing

Progressive

Sensual

Literary Characters

OF THE BABY NAME JOHNNY

“Johnny” Belinda is the title character in the 1948 movie, Johnny Belinda, adapted for the screen from the play of the same name by Elmer Blaney Harris. Jane Wyman (the one-time wife of the late President Ronald Reagan) played the role and won an Academy Award for it. This is a real tear-jerker with a happy ending, and is said to be based upon a true story. Poor young Johnny Belinda, whose mother died giving birth to her, is a woman who is both deaf and mute. She lives with her father and aunt (both of whom resent her for her part in her mother’s death) on their hardscrabble farm in eastern Canada. Largely ignored by everyone, Belinda is given a new lease on life by the arrival in town of Dr. Richardson, who believes in her innate intelligence and teaches her sign language, all the while falling in love with her himself. Stella, the doctor’s secretary, has feelings for him as well, and is jealous and resentful. A townsman, McCormick, rapes and impregnates Belinda, and the townspeople all think she is pregnant by Dr. Richardson. The good doctor, knowing defeat when he sees it, leaves town to establish a new practice, intending to come back for Belinda and the baby. Not so fast – the rapist, who has since married Stella, takes it into his head that he wants his own child back. In short order he kills Belinda’s father, persuades the town that Belinda is unfit to raise the child and comes with Stella to claim him. Belinda, trying to save herself and her baby, shoots and kills McCormick and goes on trial for murder. Whew! During the trial, Stella, her old feelings for the doctor having softened her, admits that McCormick told her he had fathered Belinda’s child, and Belinda is set free to a happy future. Quite a soap opera, but in the capable performance of the movie’s actors, every bit is plausible, and we are left rejoicing in Belinda’s hard-earned good fortune, at last.

Popular Songs

ON JOHNNY

The Late Great Johnny Ace
a song by Paul Simon

Johnny Raven
a song by Michael Jackson

Johnny Met June
a song by Shelby Lynne

Joshua Gone Barbados (Johnny Cash)
One of Cash's many tales told to song.

Johnny the Fox Meets Jimmy the Weed
by Thin Lizzy

The Ballad of Jimmy & Johnny
a song by Rancid

Johnny B Goode
a song by Chuck Berry

(The legend of) Johnny Kool
a song by Brian Setzer

A Girl Called Johnny
a song by The Waterboys

Angry Johnny
a song by Poe

Be Good Johnny
a song by Men At Work

Bye Bye Johnny
a song by Chuck Berry

Claire and Johnny
a song by Chuck Brodsky

Dance with Me Johnny
a song by The Mollys

Frankie and Johnny
a song by Brook Benton

Famous People

NAMED JOHNNY

Johnny Carson (comedian/talk show host)
Johnny Cash (musician)
Johnny Mathis (singer)
Johnny Depp (actor)
Johnny Unitas (football player)
Johnny Bench (baseball player)
Johnny Bower (hockey player)
Johnny Bucyk (hockey player)
Johnny Evers (baseball player)
Johnny Miller (golfer)
Johnny Mize (baseball player)
Johnny Sauter (racecar driver)
Johnny Appleseed (American pioneer)
Johnny Carson (comedian/talk show host)
Johnny Cash (musician)
Johnny Mathis (singer)
Johnny Depp (actor)
Johnny Unitas (football player)
Johnny Bench (baseball player)
Johnny Bower (hockey player)
Johnny Bucyk (hockey player)
Johnny Evers (baseball player)
Johnny Miller (golfer)
Johnny Mize (baseball player)
Johnny Sauter (racecar driver)
Johnny Appleseed (American pioneer)
Johnny Carson (comedian/talk show host)
Johnny Cash (musician)
Johnny Mathis (singer)
Johnny Depp (actor)
Johnny Unitas (football player)
Johnny Bench (baseball player)
Johnny Bower (hockey player)
Johnny Bucyk (hockey player)
Johnny Evers (baseball player)
Johnny Miller (golfer)
Johnny Mize (baseball player)
Johnny Sauter (racecar driver)
Johnny Appleseed (American pioneer)

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