Welsh boy name
Ioan Name Meaning, Origin & Pronunciation
Ioan means god is gracious. The Welsh form of John, from the Hebrew name meaning God is gracious
Ioan is the Welsh form of John, from the Hebrew name Yohanan, meaning God is gracious. It is a widely used name in Wales, related to the forms Ieuan and Ifan. The pronunciation is YO-an, with a stress on the first syllable. Ioan Gruffudd, the actor best known for Horatio Hornblower and Fantastic Four, is among its best-known bearers. The name has the plain, timeless feel of John with a distinctively Welsh spelling that suits the language.
Computer-generated voice, as a guide to pronunciation.
Variants of Ioan
IeuanIfanEvan
Well-known people named Ioan
Ioan Gruffudd.
Ioan popularity: Ireland vs the US
In 2025 Ioan ranked #787 in Ireland (3 babies) and #11,185 in the US (6 babies). It is far more popular in Ireland than in America.
Ireland (boys)United States (boys)
Rank among babies of the same sex, 1 = most popular (log scale). Ranks below #10,000 sit on the bottom edge. Gaps mean fewer than 3 Irish or 5 US babies that year.
Data: US Social Security Administration (public domain) and Central Statistics Office, Ireland (CC BY 4.0). Irish accented spellings (such as Síle) are only recorded from 2018, so earlier years combine spellings.
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ioan mean?
Ioan means "god is gracious". The Welsh form of John, from the Hebrew name meaning God is gracious.
How do you pronounce Ioan?
Ioan is pronounced YO-an.
What is the origin of Ioan?
Ioan is of Welsh origin. The Welsh form of John, from the Hebrew name meaning God is gracious.