Fun Facts About the Name Giannis
- More than 1 thousand babies named Giannis: U.S. records list 1,081 babies given the name Giannis from 1880 through 2025. Even 37 girls received the name Giannis - about 1 girl for every 28 boys.
What Does the Name Giannis Mean?
Giannis is a Greek masculine name meaning 'God is gracious.' It is a familiar form of Ioannis (Ιωάννης), the Greek equivalent of John. Ioannis comes from the Hebrew name Yochanan (יוֹחָנָן), which is built from a shortened form of the divine name, often represented as Yo- or Yeho-, and chanan, meaning 'to be gracious' or 'to show favor.' The literal sense is therefore 'Yahweh is gracious,' and the customary English rendering of that meaning is 'God is gracious.'
The spelling Giannis reflects Modern Greek pronunciation, in which the earlier Io- was reduced and the following sound developed into a palatal y-like consonant written with the Greek letter gamma. Giannis is therefore a Greek development within the John tradition, not a name from a separate root. Italian Gianni belongs to the same broad John family, but it is a distinct form with its own history.
Giannis Name History & Origins
The Greek name Ioannis appears in the New Testament as the name of John the Baptist and John the Apostle. From the early Christian period onward, Greek speakers used Ioannis alongside a range of shortened and affectionate forms. Giannis (Γιάννης) became one of the most widespread of these vernacular forms in modern Greek. In the change from Ioannis to Giannis, the initial I- became a y-like sound and the o was dropped, a development reflected in the modern Greek spelling and pronunciation.
Because Greek uses a different alphabet, the name has several English transliterations, including Yannis and Yiannis; Giannis is a common spelling in English-language contexts. The name is common in Greece and Cyprus and among Greek diaspora communities. A well-known modern bearer is the basketball player Giannis Antetokounmpo.
How Popular is the Name Giannis?
Giannis has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2022. Its best rank was #1,217 in 2022.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #15,709 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2024 | #12,572 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2023 | #12,574 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2022 | #14,159 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2020 | #12,597 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2019 | #16,372 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,692 | 97 | 0.0057% |
| 2024 | #1,482 | 122 | 0.0071% |
| 2023 | #1,361 | 138 | 0.0081% |
| 2022 | #1,217 | 162 | 0.0093% |
| 2021 | #1,237 | 155 | 0.0089% |
| 2020 | #1,388 | 126 | 0.0073% |
| 2019 | #1,289 | 144 | 0.0080% |
| 2018 | #2,243 | 61 | 0.0034% |
| 2017 | #4,025 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 2016 | #9,130 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2014 | #12,698 | 5 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Giannis Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are introspective, prophetic, philosophical, and soul searching, but also can be analytical, critical and opinionated. You think deeply and clearly, have an air of mystery, can be solitary and secretive. You are intuitive and might be interested in the arts, drama or science.
You are always looking for a chance to do your own thing, to be your own person, and to have things done your own way.
✦ Giannis's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Giannis's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.