Jon

Jon is a masculine given name that is commonly used in English-speaking countries. It is frequently a shortened form of John or Jonathan, though it is also used as an independent name. The form Jon has been in use since the medieval period and remains a familiar, distinct given name today.

Origin and meaning: The name John ultimately comes from the Hebrew Yochanan, meaning “God is gracious.” Through Latin Ioannes and Old French Jean, it entered English as John. The shortened form Jon emerged as a stand-alone spelling in the English-speaking world and is sometimes treated as equivalent to Jonathon or Jonathan.

Usage and regional forms: In the United States and Britain, Jon is often given as a nickname or full name. In Nordic usage, variants such as Jón are common with accents; in Icelandic and Norwegian contexts, Jon can appear as a separate given name as well.

Notable people named Jon include Jon Stewart (American comedian and former host of The Daily Show), Jon Bon Jovi (American singer and founder of Bon Jovi), Jon Hamm (American actor), Jon Favreau (American actor and director), Jon Krakauer (American writer), Jon Jones (American mixed martial artist).

Fictional characters: Jon Snow, a central figure in George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire and its television adaptation; Jon Arbuckle, owner of Garfield.