Johan

Johan is a masculine given name used in Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, and other European languages. It is a variant of Johannes, itself derived from the Hebrew name Yochanan, meaning "Yahweh is gracious" or "God is gracious." The form has produced several cognates in different languages, including John in English, Ioannes in Greek, and Johann in German.

In the Netherlands and in Scandinavian countries, Johan remains a common given name. It has also spread to other regions through migration and historical cultural contact, including usage in Indonesia and parts of Africa where Dutch influence or European naming traditions are present. The name often appears in its longer forms such as Johannes or Johann in formal contexts, with shorter forms and nicknames varying by language.

Notable people with the name include Johan Cruyff (1947–2016), Dutch footballer and coach; Johan van Oldenbarnevelt (1547–1619), Dutch statesman; Johan de Witt (1625–1672), Dutch statesman; Johan Huizinga (1872–1945), Dutch historian and cultural theorist; Johan Zoffany (1733–1810), painter; Johan Galtung (1930–2022), Norwegian sociologist; Johan Santana (born 1979), Venezuelan baseball pitcher; Johan Elmander (born 1981), Swedish footballer; Johan Liebert, fictional character in the manga and anime Monster.

See also: Johannes, Johann, Ioannes, and John as related forms. The name Johan is generally regarded as traditional and formal in many of its language communities.