João
PopularA boy's name meaning God is gracious.
Approved in Portugal. João is on the official IRN list of names you can register. In the national top 10 of 2025.
Origin
Portuguese form of Iohannes, coming from Biblical Greek Ioannes and, before that, from Hebrew Yochanan, formed from Yahweh (God) and hanan (to be gracious, to show mercy).
Story
It spread through Christendom largely through the veneration of Saint John the Baptist and the apostle Saint John the Evangelist. It was the name of several kings of Portugal, among them João I, founder of the House of Avis, and João IV, who restored independence in 1640. It is one of the most given boy names in Portugal in recent years.
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Get startedSources & references
- List of admitted given names · IRN · irn.justica.gov.pt (approved-name list & birth statistics)
- Behind the Name · João
- Wiktionary · João