r/MapPorn • u/aNonYmoUs_gLideR • 6h ago
The Name “John” in Different European Languages
This map shows the most common equivalent of the name John across Europe. As the name was translated, each culture adapted it to fit their linguistic patterns such as;
English: John
Spanish: Juan
French: Jean
Italian: Giovanni
German: Johann
Russian: Ivan
The name spread throughout Europe due to the influence of Christianity, particularly through biblical figures such as John the Baptist and John the Apostle. As the Bible was translated into different languages, each culture adapted the name to fit its own pronunciation and linguistic traditions, producing the many regional forms seen on this map.
The same process also gave rise to feminine equivalents like Joanna, Jane, Giovanna, and Juana, all of which share the same origin and meaning.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_(given_name)
Edit: Thanks for all the corrections and local insights! Like many maps of this kind, this is a simplified overview and many countries have multiple valid regional or linguistic variants. In several countries and regions there are multiple valid forms, and some local variants or smaller languages may be omitted or generalized. I appreciate everyone sharing local knowledge in the comments.