Yohannes
MeaningGod is gracious · Amharic
Yohannes is an African boy name meaning “God is gracious”, with Amharic roots. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds crisp and confident, it's a longer name that leaves plenty of room for nicknames, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length.
Did you know?
- Hidden namesLook closely: Yohannes has the name Anne hiding inside it.
- Scrabble scoreIf names were allowed in Scrabble, Yohannes would score 14 points, thanks largely to the Y (worth 4).
- GenerationYohannes peaked in 2019, which makes it a Gen Alpha name. The typical Yohannes you'd meet today is about 6 years old.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Yohannes would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 81,301 baby boys got the name in 2025.
- HistoryYohannes first shows up in US birth records in 1986, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 39 years since.
- Where it's lovedWant to meet a lot of Yohanness? Head to Washington, D.C., where it's the #168 boy name, its best showing of any state.
US births per million boys, 1986–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Yohannes
Yohannes is a boy name of African origin meaning “God is gracious”. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the consonant at the end gives it a confident finish. It hit its peak in the 2010s and is climbing again now. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:African names
More African boy names
- Unisex name: Cairo · the victorious
- Unisex name: Asa · healer
- Unisex name: Zaire · river
- Boy name: Omari · long-lived
- Boy name: Ermias · form of Jeremiah
- Boy name: Jabari · brave, fearless
- Boy name: Paulo · small
- Unisex name: Amani · peace
Questions about the name Yohannes
What does the name Yohannes mean?
Yohannes means “God is gracious” and comes from Amharic. Names built around “God” have been loved for generations, and give a child a meaning worth sharing when someone asks about their name. Other boy names with a similar meaning include Theodore (“gift of God”), Elijah (“my God is Yahweh”), Mateo (“gift of God”) and Elias (“my God is Yahweh”).
What is the origin of the name Yohannes?
Yohannes is African in origin, and its meaning traces back to Amharic. Other African names to consider are Cairo (“the victorious”), Asa (“healer”), Zaire (“river”) and Omari (“long-lived”).
Is Yohannes a boy or girl name?
Yohannes is a boy name. In 2025, 21 US boys were named Yohannes.
How popular is the name Yohannes?
Yohannes ranked #4,707 for US boys in 2025, given to 21 babies. Its best year was 2019, when it reached #4,114. Over the last five years it has climbed 528 places.
What names are similar to Yohannes?
If you like Yohannes, you might also like Theodore, Elijah, Mateo and Elias.
What should I know before naming my baby Yohannes?
Yohannes is an African boy name meaning “God is gracious”, with Amharic roots. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds crisp and confident, it's a longer name that leaves plenty of room for nicknames, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.