Fun Facts About the Name Giovan
- 368 babies named Giovan: U.S. records list 368 babies given the name Giovan from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Giovan Mean?
Giovan is a form of the name known in English as John. It goes back to Hebrew Yochanan (יוֹחָנָן), generally understood to mean "YHWH is gracious" or "God is gracious." The Hebrew name joins a shortened form of the divine name with a verb element meaning "to be gracious" or "to show favor." It passed into Greek as Ioannes and into Latin as Iohannes, and from Latin it became Italian Giovanni.
Giovan is Giovanni with its final syllable dropped. In Italian this shortened form is regular when the name opens a compound given name, as in Giovan Battista or Giovan Pietro, and it also stands alone in older Italian writing. It carries the same meaning as Giovanni; the shorter spelling reflects a change in form, not a separate root.
Giovan Name History & Origins
Yochanan appears in the Hebrew Bible as the name of several men, among them a son of King Josiah and members of priestly families listed in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. Through Greek Ioannes and Latin Iohannes, the name entered Christian Europe, where the New Testament uses it for John the Baptist and John the Apostle. Latin Iohannes developed into Italian Giovanni.
The shortened Giovan is specific to Italian usage. When two given names are joined in Italian, the first normally loses its final vowel, so Giovanni plus Battista becomes Giovan Battista, and Giovanni plus Pietro becomes Giovan Pietro. The same clipped form occurs in Italian poetry, where the final syllable of the full name is regularly dropped. Over time, Giovan has also been used by itself as a given name rather than only as the first part of a compound.
The name belongs to the large family of forms descended from Iohannes, which includes Giovanni in Italian, Juan in Spanish, Jean in French, and John in English. Among these, Giovan is closest to Giovanni and differs from it only in the loss of the ending.
How Popular is the Name Giovan?
Giovan 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 1999. Its best rank was #2,279 in 1999.
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 | #8,478 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2024 | #10,203 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2023 | #6,653 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2022 | #6,961 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2021 | #6,136 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2020 | #7,708 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2019 | #8,418 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2018 | #11,244 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2015 | #7,675 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2014 | #9,059 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2013 | #7,201 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2011 | #6,364 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2010 | #9,077 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2009 | #13,126 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2008 | #11,537 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2007 | #10,142 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 2006 | #8,241 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 2005 | #7,300 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2004 | #6,692 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2003 | #5,658 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2002 | #5,221 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 2001 | #3,349 | 26 | 0.0013% |
| 2000 | #6,488 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1999 | #2,279 | 40 | 0.0021% |
| 1998 | #4,972 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1997 | #8,530 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1996 | #5,686 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1995 | #5,645 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1994 | #5,216 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1993 | #9,226 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1992 | #6,337 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1991 | #5,670 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1990 | #5,131 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1986 | #7,106 | 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 Giovan 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 seeking freedom, opportunities to enjoy life: to make love, to go places and to do things. You are very adventurous and willing to take risk to achieve your objectives. New ways and new experiences can't satisfy your restless nature. One adventure leads you to another. You are honest and fair, because you know that this is the only way to receive justice and honesty from other people. But your personal growth is vital for you, and it is difficult to be tied down by rules and obligations. Your restless spirit might best controlled by choosing the field of work that meet your demand for action and adventure.
✦ Giovan's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Giovan's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.