"God is gracious"
Origin: Hebrew (via Greek Ioannis)
Language: English
Giannis
Does Giannis flow with your last name?
The NBA's 'Greek Freak' gave this ancient name global fame
Greek
Italian
Cypriot
Mediterranean
Classic
Strong
Sophisticated
Bold
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
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Nicknames
Nicknames for Giannis
2 shorthand options for every setting
Meaning & Origin
"YHWH has shown favor"
Origin: Hebrew
Language: Greek
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The Story of Giannis
Giannis is the Modern Greek form of Ioannis (John), which derives from the Hebrew Yochanan meaning 'God is gracious' or 'YHWH has been gracious.' The name has traveled from ancient Hebrew through Greek and Latin Christianity, spawning hundreds of cognates across European languages — Giovanni in Italian, Jean in French, Juan in Spanish, Johan in German — all sharing this same divine root.
While Giannis has been a staple Greek name for centuries, it gained extraordinary international recognition through NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. The 'Greek Freak' brought his name to every basketball-watching country, and Giannis saw a notable uptick in baby name registrations in the US and globally after his 2021 NBA Championship win.
In Greek culture, Giannis is one of the most common male names, partly because of the Orthodox tradition of naming children after saints. Saint John (Agios Ioannis) is venerated on June 24th, which is celebrated as one of the biggest name days in Greece.
Historical Record
Giannis first appeared in US Social Security records in 2014.
Over 947 babies have been named Giannis in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Giannis is a new entry on the US charts , currently ranked #1,479 for boy names in the US .
Fun Facts
- Giannis Antetokounmpo's last name means 'cross bearer' in Greek, matching his first name's religious significance
- John/Giannis is estimated to be the most common male name in human history across all its variants
Giannis in Other Languages
Latin
Ioannes
French
Jean
German
Johann
Hebrew
Yochanan
Italian
Giovanni
Russian
Иван (Ivan)
Spanish
Juan
Popularity Over Time
#1,479
Current Rank
Rising
Trend
New Entry
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Giannis
G
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Athlete
1994
Nigerian-Greek NBA superstar, two-time MVP and 2021 NBA Champion with the Milwaukee Bucks, nicknamed 'The Greek Freak'
Y
Yanni
Musician
1954
Greek-American composer and pianist known for his atmospheric instrumental music and concerts at world heritage sites
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Compare Giannis with:
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Boy
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #1,479
- Total SSA Count
- 122
- Cultural Origins
- Greek Italian Cypriot Mediterranean
- Pronunciation
- Hard
- Formality
- Formal
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- Low
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Gian
Yanni
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
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Timeless choice, Italian heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
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Classic pairing, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, Italian heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, Italian heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, Italian heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Classic pairing, smooth 2-1 syllable flow
-
Classic pairing, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
Middle Names
Middle Names for Giannis
7 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
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Also a Girl Name
Giannis is also used as a girl name, ranked #17755.
View Giannis as a girl name →Similar Names
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Same Origin Names (Greek)
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Greek artemes origin
"safe, unharmed (proposed etymology)"
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Norman French origin
"Gomeric's hill"
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Frequently Asked Questions About Giannis
What does the name Giannis mean?
"God is gracious" (from Hebrew (via Greek Ioannis)). "YHWH has shown favor" (from Hebrew). Giannis is the Modern Greek form of Ioannis (John), which derives from the Hebrew Yochanan meaning 'God is gracious' or 'YHWH has been gracious.' The name has traveled from ancient Hebrew through Greek and Latin Christianity, spawning hundreds of cognates across European languages — Giovanni in Italian, Jean in French, Juan in Spanish, Johan in German — all sharing this same divine root.
What is the origin of the name Giannis?
Giannis has Hebrew (via Greek Ioannis), Hebrew, Greek, Italian, Cypriot, and Mediterranean origins. In Hebrew (via Greek Ioannis), it means "God is gracious". In Hebrew, it means "YHWH has shown favor".
Is Giannis a boy or girl name?
Giannis is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it is ranked #1479. As a girl name, it is ranked #17755. Giannis is more commonly used as a boy name.
How popular is the name Giannis?
Giannis is currently ranked #1479 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Giannis?
Common nicknames for Giannis include Gian and Yanni.
What are good middle names for Giannis?
Popular middle name pairings include Giannis Alexandros, Giannis Konstantinos, Giannis Nikos, Giannis Petros, Giannis Michael, Giannis Dimitri, and Giannis Stavros.
What are good sibling names for Giannis?
Names that pair well with Giannis as siblings include Theo, Nikos, Katerina, Eleni, Kostas, Demi, and Alexia.
How many syllables does Giannis have?
Giannis has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.
Is Giannis a common or rare name?
Giannis is an uncommon name, ranked #1479 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.
What boy names are similar to Giannis?
About the Name Giannis
Giannis is a boy name with Greek, Italian, Cypriot, and Mediterranean origins . The name means "God is gracious" in Hebrew (via Greek Ioannis) .
Is Giannis a boy or girl name? Giannis is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it ranks #1,479 in popularity. As a girl name, it ranks #17,755. Giannis is more commonly used as a boy name.
Giannis is currently ranked #1,479 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
The name Giannis has 2 syllables, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Giannis include Gian and Yanni. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Giannis include Gianni, Gian, Gianluca, Giancarlo, Giancarlos . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
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Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis