Johannes is of Latin origin, meaning "God is gracious". It's derived from the Greek 'Ioannes', which is itself derived from the Hebrew 'Yochanan', meaning "God is gracious". Johannes was a common name among ancient Romans and was later adopted by early Christians, becoming one of the most popular names in Europe during the Middle Ages. In various forms such as John or Sean, Johannes remains widely used today across many cultures.
The name Johannes experienced a significant rise in popularity from the late 1960s onwards, with a notable spike starting around 1980. In the early years (1913-1970), there were consistently fewer than 20 births per year, with many years having fewer than 10. However, beginning in 1975, the number of annual births began to steadily increase, reaching over 20 births per year by 1980. This trend continued through the 1980s and 1990s, with peaks in popularity occurring around 1987 (37 births), 1995-1996 (both 39 births), and 2019-2023 (ranging from 51 to 62 births). Despite this growth in popularity, the name Johannes has never been among the most popular names, with total births over the entire period reaching 2214.