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Giannis as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Giannis

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The baby name Giannis is a Male name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈʝanis/ (approx. "YAH-nees" or "YAN-nis").

Giannis is Greek in Origin.

Gender: Male
Syllables: 3.0
Origin: Greek
Pronunciation: /ˈʝanis/ (approx. "YAH-nees" or "YAN-nis")

What is the meaning of the name Giannis ?

The baby name Giannis is a Male name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈʝanis/ (approx. "YAH-nees" or "YAN-nis").

Giannis is Greek in Origin.

Giannis is the modern Greek form of Ioannis (Greek: Γιάννης/Ιωάννης), ultimately from Hebrew Yochanan, meaning "Yahweh is gracious" or "God is gracious." As a core name of Christian tradition - borne by John the Baptist and John the Apostle - it has remained deeply popular in Greece from the Byzantine era to the present, sustained by Orthodox naming customs and family continuity.

Spelled Γιάννης in Greek, it appears in English as Giannis, Yiannis, or Yannis; related short forms include Yani and Gianni, with affectionate diminutives such as Giannakis and Giannos. The formal register is Ioannis. Feminine counterparts include Ioanna and Gianna/Yianna (Γιάννα). Cognates across languages are widespread: John (English), Jean (French), Giovanni (Italian), Juan (Spanish), João (Portuguese), Ian/Sean (Celtic), Ivan (Slavic), and Jan (Dutch/Scandinavian/Slavic). The name has gained international visibility through figures like NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo and poet Giannis Ritsos, while retaining its enduring sense of divine favor.

Giannis has the following similar or variant Names

Giannis – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
GR Boys 0 #5 4,724 6,912
GR 0 #7 575 3,911
CY Boys 0 #23 241 3,473
CY 0 #34 26 1,632
BG 0 #82 1 1,799
CY Girls 0 #125 1 3,755
HU Boys 0 #174 1 3,954
Sweden Boys 2020 #176 2 1,548
MT Boys 0 #179 1 4,064
RU 0 #194 1 3,641
DK 0 #206 1 5,198
BG Boys 0 #216 5 3,850
LU Boys 0 #220 1 4,970
GR Girls 0 #228 15 6,293
HR Boys 0 #258 2 3,997
AL Boys 0 #280 19 5,122
KZ Boys 0 #296 1 6,578
Canada Boys 2023 #304 6 2,601
CZ Boys 0 #304 2 6,530
DK Boys 0 #328 5 7,401
CN Boys 0 #331 1 9,639
PL Boys 0 #340 1 6,459
France Boys 2021 #362 26 2,865
MU Boys 0 #369 1 8,477
PT Boys 0 #381 1 7,951
PH Boys 0 #407 2 11,440
EG 0 #412 1 6,387
Germany 0 #424 14 2,542
AR Boys 0 #483 1 7,628
RU Boys 0 #495 11 12,621
CO 0 #510 1 7,768
CR Boys 0 #510 1 10,188
HK Boys 0 #556 2 12,905
PS Boys 0 #561 1 10,655
IR Boys 0 #563 3 10,162
CM Boys 0 #575 1 12,054
BH 0 #587 1 17,937
IL Boys 0 #625 1 10,983
IN Girls 0 #654 1 13,121
CL Boys 0 #696 5 13,390
Germany Boys 0 #708 250 5,697
SG Boys 0 #738 2 17,960
QA Boys 0 #742 2 18,093
United States Boys 2024 #771 122 7,044
KW Boys 0 #803 4 18,755
NL Boys 0 #882 70 5,873
United States Girls 2024 #910 7 8,487
CL Girls 0 #915 1 14,098
OM Boys 0 #916 3 17,948
EG Boys 0 #924 2 15,035
PE Boys 0 #924 3 14,506
CO Boys 0 #980 2 15,656
BR Girls 0 #991 2 12,708
PE Girls 0 #1,008 3 14,861
AE Boys 0 #1,140 4 22,615
CO Girls 0 #1,152 1 16,140
DZ 0 #1,234 1 20,130
TR 0 #1,249 6 19,440
ZA Boys 0 #1,270 3 25,619
IT Boys 0 #1,389 83 10,046
SA Boys 0 #1,686 6 28,008

Giannis is popular in 47 countries — most recent births per country:

United States
France
Canada
AE
AL

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People also ask about Giannis

Giannis is predominantly a boy's name.
Giannis is a 3 syllable name, pronounced /ˈʝanis/ (approx. "YAH-nees" or "YAN-nis").
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Yiannis, Yannis, Ioannis, Giánnis and Gianis.
Yes — Giannis ranked #176 in Sweden in 2020, and appears in official birth registries across 4 countries.
Giannis ranks highest in Sweden (#176 in 2020).
Giannis's popularity is rising significantly. It moved from #887 in 2014 to #771 in 2024 in United States.