Names That Mean Gracious

An elaboration of Jaan, not quite as widely used in Estonia as the original. Jaan is the Estonian form of John.

Jaunty Jancey hails from the United Kingdom, where it appeared in England as a surname and in Scotland as a nickname for Janet. It's extremely uncommon in the US, given to fewer than five baby girls in the most recent year on record. You'll be hard-pressed to come across another Jancey in your life, so if unique names are a priority for you, this jolly and accessible choice belongs on your list.

Feminization of Evan

A cool Finnish name with a lovely sound and meaning.

Variant (mis)spelling of Siobhan.

Maori form of Joanna

Medieval Venetian form of John, which feels ripe for a comeback in 21st-century America.

A Top 10 name in Slovenia, where it is a form of John. Žan is pronounced similarly to the French Jean.

Form of Yannick

Honus is inextricably linked with baseball legend Honus Wagner. The son of German immigrants, he was born Johannes Peter Wagner in 1874. His childhood nickname was Hans, which evolved into Honus. Honus Wagner was a shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates — considered the greatest ever — yet his distinctive name has never been given to more than four children in a single year.

Nyakyusa form of John.

A spunky diminutive of Hanne, itself derived from Johanna or Johanne.

A cool Germanic and Scandinavian short form of Johannes, from John.

This name appears frequently in the Old Testament, notably as the Hebrew name of Shadrach.

Splits the difference between Joanie and Joni, if you can't decide between the two.

Rare feminine form of Hans — a John derivative — occasionally heard in Germany and other German-speaking countries.

Estonian translation of John, currently ranking in Estonia's Top 20.

Emphasizes a four-syllable pronunciation, rather than the traditional three of Giovanni.