In many French-speaking countries, Jean is a male name derived from the Old French Jehan (or Jahan). The female equivalent is Jeanne (French: [ʒan]) and derives from the Old French Jehanne. Both names derive from the Latin name Johannes, itself from the Koine Greek name Ioannes (Ιωαννης), the name used for various New Testament characters, most notably John the Baptist. The Greek name ultimately derives from the Biblical Hebrew name Yochanan (יוֹחָנָן), meaning "YHWH/Yahweh is Gracious".
Pronunciation | English: /ʒɒ̃, ʒɑːn/ zhon, zhawn French: [ʒɑ̃] |
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Gender | Male |
Origin | |
Word/name | Hebrew, via Old French |
Meaning | "Yahweh is gracious" |
Other names | |
Related names | John, Jahan, Evan, Giovanni, Hans, Juan, Hovhannes, Ian, Ioan, Ioane, Ivan, Iven, Ifan, Jack, Jackson, Jan, Jane, Janez, Jhon, Joan, João, Johan/Johann, Johanan, Johannes, Jonne, Jovan, Jared, Juhani, Seán, Shane, Siôn, Yahya, Yohannes |
People known only as Jean
edit- Jean, Count of Harcourt (died 1473)
- Jean, Baron de Batz (1754–1822)
- Jean, duc Decazes (1864–1912)
- Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg (1921–2019), ruled Luxembourg, 1964–2000
- Prince Jean of Luxembourg (born 1957)
- DJ Jean (born 1968), Jan Engelaar, a Dutch disc jockey
- Jean (footballer, born 1972), Jean Paulo Fernandes, Brazilian goalkeeper
- Jean (footballer, born 1979), Jean Ferreira Narde, Brazilian defender
- Jean (footballer, born 1981), Jean Paulo Batista de França, Brazilian defender
- Jean (footballer, born 1982), Jean Carlos da Silva Ferreira, Brazilian striker
- Jean (footballer, born 1986), Jean Raphael Vanderlei Moreira, Brazilian defender and midfielder
- Jean (footballer, born 1992), Jean Acosta Soares, Brazilian midfielder
- Jean (footballer, born 1994), Jean Carlos de Souza Irmer, Brazilian midfielder
- Jean (footballer, born June 1995), Jean Carlos de Brito, Brazilian defender
- Jean (footballer, born October 1995), Jean Paulo Fernandes Filho, Brazilian goalkeeper
Jean as a male given name
edit- Jean Absil (1893–1974), Belgian composer
- Jean Agélou (1878–1921), French photographer
- Jean Alesi (born 1964), French racing driver
- Jean Baudrillard (1929–2007), French sociologist and philosopher
- Jean Brankart (1930–2020), Belgian cyclist
- Jean Bricmont (born 1952), Belgian theoretical physicist and philosopher of science
- Jean Chrétien (born 1934), Canadian politician
- Jean Filion (born 1951), Canadian politician
- Jean Paul Getty (1892–1976), American-born British petrol-industrialist
- Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980), French author and existentialist philosopher
- Jean Hersholt (1886–1956), Danish-American actor
- Jean Kahwaji (born 1953), Lebanese army general
- Jean Lopez (born 1973), American Taekwondo athlete and coach
- Jean Maciel (born 1989), Brazilian footballer
- Jean Mannheim (1863–1945), German-born American painter and educator
- Jean Moulin (1899–1943), member of the French Resistance during World War II
- Jean Njeim (1915–1971), Lebanese army general
- Jean Obeid (1939–2021), Lebanese politician
- Jean Orry (1652–1719), French economist
- Jean Piaget (1896–1980), Swiss psychologist and epistemologist
- Jean Reno (born 1948), French actor
- Jean Séguy (1925–2007), French sociologist of religion
- Jean Sibelius (1892–1952), Finnish composer
- Jean Todt (born 1946), president of the FIA
- Jean Vuarnet (1933–2017), French alpine skier
- Jean-Éric Vergne (born 1990), French racing driver
Fictional characters
edit- Jean Descole, Professor Layton’s archenemy in the prequel trilogy.
- Jean Pierre Polnareff, supporting character in Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders
- Jean Havoc, supporting character in Fullmetal Alchemist
- Jean Kujo, A French karate expert from Virtua Fighter Series
- Jean Valjean, protagonist of the Victor Hugo novel Les Misérables
- Jean Roqua, trainer of Jake Tyler in the movie Never Back Down
- Jean Kirschtein, supporting character in Attack on Titan
- Jean Tannen, protagonist of the Gentleman Bastard Sequence
- Jean, a villager and playable character from Fire Emblem: Engage
- Jean Vicquemare, supporting character in Disco Elysium
Songs about Jean
edit- Jean the Birdman by David Sylvian and Robert Fripp from the album The First Day
See also
edit- Articles beginning with Jean
- Jean (female given name)
- Jean-André
- Jean-Antoine
- Jean-Baptiste
- Jean-Bernard
- Jean-Charles
- Jean-Christophe (given name)
- Jean-Claude (given name)
- Jean-Denis
- Jean-Étienne
- Jean-François
- Jean-Henri
- Jean-Jacques
- Jean-Louis
- Jean-Luc
- Jean-Marc
- Jean-Marie
- Jean-Martin
- Jean-Michel
- Jean-Pascal
- Jean-Paul (disambiguation)
- Jean-Philippe (given name)
- Jean-Pierre (given name)
- Jean-René
- Jean-Sébastien
- Jean-Yves