Names That Mean Gracious

Rather dated smoosh name.

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.

This variation of Ivan, itself a form of John, entered the US Top 1000 for the first time in 2022. Double As are trending across the states, such as Saanvi and Aarush, and Ivaan is running right along with them — all the way into the Top 1000 in 2022.

A cool Finnish name with a lovely sound and meaning.

Feminization of Evan

Variant (mis)spelling of Siobhan.

Maori form of Joanna

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

Nyakyusa form of John.

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.

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

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

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

Form of Yannick

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.

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

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

A classic Top 10 name in Iceland, where it is the predominant form of John.