João
João is a Christian boy name of Hebrew, via Portuguese origin, meaning “God is gracious”.
| Meaning | God is gracious |
|---|---|
| Gender | Boy |
| Origin | Hebrew, via Portuguese |
| Pronunciation | zhoo-OW |
| Tradition | Christian |
| Used in | Portugal, Brazil, Angola, Mozambique |
Meaning and origin of João
João is the Portuguese form of John, from the Hebrew Yohanan, 'Yahweh is gracious'. The nasal 'ão' ending is distinctive to Portuguese and difficult to capture in English spelling. It has been the most common male name in Portugal for centuries and was borne by many Portuguese kings. In Brazil, compounds like João Pedro and João Miguel are extremely common. João Gilberto, the father of bossa nova, is a famous bearer.
Is João a Christian name?
João honours both John the Baptist and John the Apostle, central figures in the Gospels; the June festivals of São João are among Brazil's best-loved celebrations.
How popular is João?
Extremely common in Portugal and Brazil.
Gifts with the name João
- João name necklaces & bracelets (Amazon)
- Personalised João baby gifts (Amazon)
- Christian baby gifts & books (Amazon)
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Spellings and variants of João
Names similar to João
More Christian boy names
Frequently asked questions
What does the name João mean?
João means 'God is gracious'. It is of Hebrew, via Portuguese origin.
Is João a Christian name?
João honours both John the Baptist and John the Apostle, central figures in the Gospels; the June festivals of São João are among Brazil's best-loved celebrations.
How do you pronounce João?
João is pronounced zhoo-OW.
Is João a boy or girl name?
João is usually a boy name.