Giannis is a Greek male given name derived from the Greek word "Γιάννης" which means "God is gracious". It is a variant of the Latin name John, which has been popular throughout Europe for centuries. The name Giannis has been used in Greece and other parts of the Mediterranean region since the Middle Ages. It was particularly common during the Byzantine Empire, when it was often given to boys born around Christmas time as a reference to Saint John the Baptist who was believed to have been born on that day. Today, Giannis is still widely used throughout Greece and has gained popularity in other countries with large Greek populations such as Cyprus, Australia, Canada, and the United States.
The name Giannis has seen a significant increase in popularity over the past decade in the United States, as evidenced by the birth statistics. In 2014, there were only 5 births with the name Giannis. However, this number started to rise significantly from 2016 onwards.
In 2017, there were 26 births, a fourfold increase compared to just three years prior. The following year, in 2018, this number nearly tripled again, with 61 babies named Giannis being born that year.
The most significant surge in popularity came between 2018 and 2019, with the number of births jumping from 61 to 144 - an impressive increase of over 135%. This trend continued into 2020, with 126 babies named Giannis being born that year.
In recent years, the popularity of the name has stabilized at a high level. In 2021 and 2022, there were 155 and 162 births respectively, indicating a consistent demand for the name. Even with a slight dip in 2023 to 138 births, Giannis remains one of the more popular names in the United States.
Overall, since 2014, there have been a total of 825 babies named Giannis born in the United States, demonstrating that this name has become increasingly favored by parents over time.