Johan
Boy name · #572 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Johan? In official American birth records, Johan has been tracked continuously since 1910, giving it 115 years of documented American history.
Johan is currently the #572 boy name in the United States — 516 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #559, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 3,488 boys born in 2025 was named Johan.
Babies named Johan per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 115-year story
Johan first appears in the Social Security records in 1910, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2016, when 659 boys were named Johan — good for #463 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Johan against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Johan in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Johan is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Johan is most common
Geography matters for names, and Johan is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Johan is most common in NJ (0.6 per 1,000), MD (0.6 per 1,000), IL (0.6 per 1,000), NY (0.5 per 1,000), NC (0.5 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.4 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Johan is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Johan
Statistically, parents drawn to Johan tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Rohan, Kylan, Ishan, Joan, and Rayan.
RohanKylanIshanJoanRayanYohanJulienRylan
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Johan | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 516 | #572 |
| 2024 | 555 | #536 |
| 2023 | 517 | #563 |
| 2022 | 501 | #580 |
| 2021 | 438 | #629 |
| 2020 | 458 | #599 |
| 2019 | 481 | #580 |
| 2018 | 480 | #576 |
| 2017 | 577 | #502 |
| 2016 | 659 | #463 |
| 2015 | 514 | #559 |
| 2014 | 478 | #581 |
| 2013 | 496 | #534 |
| 2012 | 566 | #480 |
| 2011 | 520 | #499 |
| 2010 | 592 | #453 |
| 2009 | 573 | #478 |
| 2008 | 616 | #451 |
| 2007 | 530 | #498 |
| 2006 | 476 | #531 |
| 2005 | 440 | #546 |
| 2004 | 395 | #573 |
| 2003 | 388 | #570 |
| 2002 | 447 | #510 |
| 2001 | 393 | #547 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Johan?
In official American birth records, the name Johan first appeared in 1910 (over 115 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 115 years.
Is Johan a popular boy name?
Johan ranked #572 among boys in 2025 with 516 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #559.
When was the name Johan most popular?
Johan peaked in 2016, when 659 American boys received the name (ranked #463 that year). Since 2016 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Johan?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 3,488 newborn American boys was named Johan. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.