Yochanan

Yochanan is a masculine given name of Hebrew origin. It is the Hebrew form of John and is commonly understood to mean “Yahweh is gracious” or “the Lord is gracious,” from Yeho- (a form of the divine name) combined with chanan (to be gracious). The name appears in Jewish and Christian usage and remains common in modern Hebrew.

In Jewish history and literature, several figures bore the name. The best known is Yohanan ben Zakkai, a 1st‑century CE sage who escaped the destruction of the Second Temple and established a center of learning at Yavne, helping shape Rabbinic Judaism. In the Babylonian Talmud, Rav Yochanan is cited as a prominent Amora, contributing to the discussions and halakhic debates of his era. The name thus appears across rabbinic and early medieval sources in various spellings.

In Christian tradition, the name corresponds to John. Yochanan HaMatbil is the Hebrew term for John the Baptist, while John the Apostle is also rendered Yohanan in Hebrew-language Bibles and related translations. Because John is a central figure in the New Testament, the Hebrew form Yochanan has been used in Jewish and Christian works when referring to these figures in Hebrew.

Today, Yochanan is a common given name in Israel and among Jewish communities worldwide. It appears in multiple spellings and transliterations in modern Hebrew, reflecting its biblical origins and long-standing cultural transmission.