Ion is a masculine

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a fa ...

. The written form corresponds to two names that are different and unrelated in origin. The first is the

Greek Greek may refer to: Greece Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group. *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family. **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...

name (''Iōn)'', after the mythical founder of the

Ionians The Ionians (; el, Ἴωνες, ''Íōnes'', singular , ''Íōn'') were one of the four major tribes that the Greeks considered themselves to be divided into during the ancient period; the other three being the Dorians, Aeolians, and Achae ...

; the modern (demotic) Greek equivalent is ''Ionas''. The second name is the

Romanian Romanian may refer to: *anything of, from, or related to the country and nation of Romania **Romanians, an ethnic group **Romanian language, a Romance language ***Romanian dialects, variants of the Romanian language **Romanian cuisine, traditional ...

''Ion'' which is equivalent to the

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

name

John John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Secon ...

and has the same

etymology Etymology ()The New Oxford Dictionary of English (1998) – p. 633 "Etymology /ˌɛtɪˈmɒlədʒi/ the study of the class in words and the way their meanings have changed throughout time". is the study of the history of the Phonological chan ...

as "Jon", all tracing back to the

Hebrew Hebrew (; ; ) is a Northwest Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Historically, it is one of the spoken languages of the Israelites and their longest-surviving descendants, the Jews and Samaritans. It was largely preserved ...

Bible name

Johanan Yohanan, Yochanan and Johanan are various transliterations to the Latin alphabet of the Hebrew male given name ('), a shortened form of ('), meaning "YHWH is gracious". The name is ancient, recorded as the name of Johanan, high priest of the Sec ...

. Another variant is

Ioan Ioan is a variation on the name John found in Romanian, Bulgarian, Russian, Welsh (), and Sardinian. It is usually masculine. The female equivalent in Romanian and Bulgarian is Ioana. In Russia, the name Ioann is usually reserved for the clergy ...

, the Romanian name for John the Baptist (Ioan Botezătorul). Common diminutives are

Ionel Ionel is a Romanian masculine given name. People named Ionel *Ionel Augustin (born 1955), retired Romanian footballer *Ionel Averian (born 1976), Romanian sprint canoeist * Ionel Constantin (born 1963), Romanian sprint canoeist *Ionel Dănciulesc ...

and

Ionuț Ionuț is a Romanian masculine given name. The English equivalent is Johnny. Notable persons with that name include: * Ionuț Andrei (born 1985), Romanian bobsledder * Ionuț Badea (born 1975), Romanian footballer * Ionuț Bălan (born 1978), R ...

. Its female form is

Ioana Ioana or Oana is a female given name of Romanian language, Romanian origin. It is the equivalent of the English language, English name Joan (first name), Joan, and the male version John (first name), John, all of which derive from the Hebrew languag ...

. The surname Ionescu is derived from Ion. However, Ion can also be a

surname In some cultures, a surname, family name, or last name is the portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family, tribe or community. Practices vary by culture. The family name may be placed at either the start of a person's full name ...

in Romanian.

Ion as a given name

Ion of Chios Ion of Chios (; grc-gre, Ἴων ὁ Χῖος; c. 490/480 – c. 420 BC) was a Greek writer, dramatist, lyric poet and philosopher. He was a contemporary of Aeschylus, Euripides and Sophocles. Of his many plays and poems only a few titles and fr ...

(c. 490/480–c. 420 BC), Greek writer, dramatist, lyric poet and philosopher *

Ion Agârbiceanu Ion Agârbiceanu (first name also Ioan, last name also Agărbiceanu and Agîrbiceanu; September 12, 1882 – May 28, 1963) was an Austro-Hungarian-born Romanian writer, journalist, politician, theologian and Greek-Catholic priest. Born among the ...

(1882–1963), Romanian writer and priest *

Ion Andreescu Ion Andreescu (; 15 February 1850 – 22 October 1882) was a Romanian painter. Biography He was the son of Andrei Dobrescu and Anastasia Pencovico. It is unknown if he was born in Bucharest or in another one of his parents' residences in the vic ...

(1850–1882), Romanian painter *

Ion Antonescu Ion Antonescu (; ; – 1 June 1946) was a Romanian military officer and marshal who presided over two successive wartime dictatorships as Prime Minister and ''Conducător'' during most of World War II. A Romanian Army career officer who made ...

(1882–1946), Romanian soldier, authoritarian politician and convicted war criminal * Ion Barbu (disambiguation) * Ion C. Brătianu (1821–1891), Romanian statesman * Ion I. C. Brătianu (1864–1927), Romanian politician, five-term Prime Minister of Romania, son of Ion C. Brătianu *

Ion Budai-Deleanu Ion Budai-Deleanu (January 6, 1760 – August 24, 1820) was a Romanian scholar, philologist, historian, poet, and a representative of the Transylvanian School. He was born in Csigmó (today Cigmău), a village in the town of Algyógy (today Geoag ...

(1760–1820), Romanian scholar, philologist, historian, and poet *

Ion Călugăru Ion Călugăru (; born Ștrul Leiba Croitoru, Ion Călugăru, Ioan Lăcustă''"Uzina care încearcă să gonească morții". Note nepublicate (1948)'' at thMemoria Digital Library retrieved February 17, 2010 also known as Buium sin Strul-Leiba Croi ...

(1902–1956), Romanian novelist, short story writer, journalist and critic *

Ion Luca Caragiale Ion Luca Caragiale (; commonly referred to as I. L. Caragiale; According to his birth certificate, published and discussed by Constantin Popescu-Cadem in ''Manuscriptum'', Vol. VIII, Nr. 2, 1977, pp. 179-184 – 9 June 1912) was a Romanian playw ...

(1852–1912), Wallachian-born Romanian playwright, short story writer, poet, theater manager, political commentator and journalist *

Ion Caramitru Ion Horia Leonida Caramitru, OBE (; 9 March 1942 – 5 September 2021) was a Romanian stage and film actor, stage director, and political figure. He was Minister of Culture between 1996 and 2000, in the Romanian Democratic Convention (CDR) cabi ...

(born 1942), Romanian actor, stage director and politician *

Ion Codreanu Ion Codreanu (23 June 1891–8 January 1960) was a Romanian major general during World War II. Biography He started his education at the elementary school in Bălăbănești, and then at the Gheorghe Roșca Codreanu High School in Bârlad, ...

(1891–1960), Romanian general in World War II *

Ion Constantinescu Ion Constantinescu (born 15 June 1896, date of death unknown) was a Romanian brigadier general during World War II. Military career He advanced in rank to lieutenant colonel in 1937 and to colonel in May 1941. From February 1941, he was commandant ...

(1896–?), Romanian general in World War II *

Ion Creangă Ion Creangă (; also known as Nică al lui Ștefan a Petrei, Ion Torcălău and Ioan Ștefănescu; March 1, 1837 – December 31, 1889) was a Moldavian, later Romanian writer, raconteur and schoolteacher. A main figure in 19th-century Romania ...

(1837 or 1839–1889), Moldavian, later Romanian writer, raconteur and schoolteacher *

Ion Dolănescu Ion Dolănescu (; 25 January 1944 – 19 March 2009) was a Romanian singer of folk music and a politician. He was married to singer Maria Ciobanu. He was a member of the Greater Romania Party and was elected to the Chamber of Deputies from 2000 ...

(1944–2009), Romanian singer and politician *

Ion Dragalina Ioan Dragalina (16 December 1860 – 9 November 1916) was a Romanian general, who died during the World War I in the First Battle of the Jiu Valley. Dragalina was born in the city of Karansebesch (now Caransebeș, Romania), which at the time ...

(1860–1916), Romanian First World War general *

Ion Dragoumis Ion Dragoumis (; 14 September 1878 – 31 July 1920) was a Greek diplomat, philosopher, writer and revolutionary. Biography Born in Athens, Dragoumis was the son of Stephanos Dragoumis who was foreign minister under Charilaos Trikoupis. The ...

(1878–1920), Greek diplomat, philosopher, writer and revolutionary *

Ion Druță Ion Druță (3 September 1928 – 28 September 2023), also known as Ion Drutse, was a Moldovan writer, poet, playwright and literary historian. He was an honorary member of the Romanian Academy. Biography Ion Druță was born on 3 September 192 ...

(born 1928), Moldovan writer *

Ion G. Duca Ion Gheorghe Duca (; 20 December 1879 – 29 December 1933) was Romanian politician and the Prime Minister of Romania from 14 November to 29 December 1933, when he was assassinated for his efforts to suppress the fascist Iron Guard movement. ...

(1879–1933), assassinated Prime Minister of Romania *

Ion Farris Ion Lowndes Farris (September 14, 1878 – November 10, 1934) was an American politician and attorney from the state of Florida. He served as both a member of the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate. He served twice as th ...

(1878–1934), American politician and attorney * Ion Foti (1887–1946), Romanian poet *

Ion Emanuel Florescu Ion Emanuel Florescu (7 August 1819, Râmnicu Vâlcea, Wallachia – 10 May 1893, Paris, France) was a Romanian army general who served as Prime Minister of Romania for a short time in a provisional government in 1876 (4 April – 26 Ap ...

(1819–1893), Romanian general, twice briefly Prime Minister of Romania *

Ion Ghica Ion Ghica (; 12 August 1816 – 7 May 1897) was a Romanian statesman, mathematician, diplomat and politician, who was Prime Minister of Romania five times. He was a full member of the Romanian Academy and its president many times (1876–1882, ...

(1816–1897), Romanian revolutionary, mathematician, diplomat and politician, five-time prime minister of Romania *

Ion Gigurtu Ion Gigurtu (; 24 June 1886 – 24 November 1959) was a far-right Romanian politician, Land Forces officer, engineer and industrialist who served a brief term as Prime Minister from 4 July to 4 September 1940, under the personal regime of King Car ...

(1886–1959), Romanian politician, officer, engineer and industrialist, briefly Prime Minister of Romania *

Ion Hamilton, 1st Baron HolmPatrick Ion Trant Hamilton, 1st Baron HolmPatrick, (14 July 1839 – 6 March 1898), alternately Holm Patrick, was an Anglo-Irish Member of Parliament. HolmPatrick was the son of James Hans Hamilton and Caroline Trant, and grandson of Hans Hamilton. He w ...

(1839–1898), Anglo-Irish Member of Parliament * Ion Llewellyn Idriess (1890–1979), a prolific and influential Australian author *

Ion Iliescu Ion Iliescu (; born 3 March 1930) is a Romanian politician and engineer who served as President of Romania from 1989 until 1996 and from 2000 until 2004. Between 1996 and 2000 and also from 2004 to 2008, the year in which he retired, Iliescu ...

(born 1930), twice president of Romania *

Ion Inculeț Ion Constantin Inculeț (; 5 April 1884, Răzeni, Bessarabia Governorate, Russian Empire, now the Republic of Moldova – 18 November 1940, Bucharest, Romania) was a Bessarabian and Romanian politician, the President of the Country Council of the ...

(1884–1940), Bessarabian politician and President of the Moldavian Democratic Republic *

Ion Ionescu de la Brad Ion Ionescu de la Brad (June 24, 1818 – December 16, 1891), born Ion Isăcescu, was a Moldavian, later Romanian revolutionary, agronomist, statistician, scholar, and writer. Born in Roman, Romania, Roman, he was the son of a Moldavian Romani ...

(1818–1891), born Ion Isăcescu, Moldavian, later Romanian revolutionary, agronomist, statistician, scholar and writer *

Ion Ionuț Luțu Ion Ionuț Luțu (born 3 August 1975) is a Romanian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He was compared to Gheorghe Hagi, being nicknamed "the Little Hagi" or "Hagi-Luțu". He was known for his fine dribbling and technique ...

(born 1975), Romanian footballer *

Ion Izagirre Ion Izagirre Insausti (born 4 February 1989) is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer and cyclo-cross rider from the Basque Country, who currently rides for UCI WorldTeam . He is sometimes referred to as Jon Izagirre, to retain the correct ...

(born 1989), Spanish professional cyclist *

Ion Jalea Ion Jalea (; 19 May 1887 – 7 November 1983) was a Romanian sculptor, medallist, titular member of the Romanian Academy. Biography Artistic studies Jalea was born on 19 May 1887 in the little town of Casimcea, Tulcea County. His family ...

(1887–1983), Romanian sculptor *

I. C. Massim I. C. Massim (or Ioan C. Massimu; 1825–1877) was a Romanian linguist and a founding member of the Romanian Academy. I. C. Massim was born Ion Floricel in the village of Gropeni, near the Danube port of Brăila as the son of a country pr ...

(1825–1877), linguist and a founding member of the Romanian Academy *

Ion Gheorghe Maurer Ion Gheorghe Iosif Maurer (23 September 1902 – 8 February 2000) was a Romanian communist politician and lawyer, and the 49th Prime Minister of Romania. He is the longest serving Prime Minister in the history of Romania (having served for ...

(1902–2000), Romanian communist politician and lawyer *

Ion Mihalache Ion Mihalache (; March 3, 1882 – February 5, 1963) was a Romanian agrarian politician, the founder and leader of the Peasants' Party (PȚ) and a main figure of its successor, the National Peasants' Party (PNȚ). Early life A schoolteacher bor ...

(1882–1963), Romanian agrarian politician *

Ion Mincu Ion Mincu (; December 20, 1852 – December 6, 1912 in Bucharest) was a Romanian architect known for having a leading role in the development of the Romanian Revival style. Most of his projects are located in Bucharest, including his main work ...

(1852–1912), Romanian architect, engineer, professor and politician *

Ion Minulescu Ion Minulescu (; 6 January 1881 – 11 April 1944) was a Romanian avant-garde poet, novelist, short story writer, journalist, literary critic, and playwright. Often publishing his works under the pseudonyms I. M. Nirvan and Koh-i-Noor (the latte ...

(1881–1944), Romanian avant-garde poet, writer, journalist, literary critic and playwright *

Ion Miu __NOTOC__ Ion Miu (born 21 January 1955) is a virtuoso cimbalom player, performing both Romanian folk music and pieces from the classical repertoire. Biography Miu was born in 1955 into a musical family in the town of Titu, in Dâmbovița County ...

(born 1955), Romanian musician *

Ion Moța Ion I. Moța (5 July 1902 — 13 January 1937) was the deputy leader of the Romanian fascist Legionary Movement (Iron Guard), killed in battle during the Spanish Civil War. Biography Son of the nationalist Orthodox priest Ioan Moța, who ...

(1902—1937), Romanian nationalist, deputy leader of the Iron Guard *

Ion Negoițescu Ion Negoiţescu (; also known as Nego; August 10, 1921 – February 6, 1993) was a Romanian literary historian, critic, poet, novelist and memoirist, one of the leading members of the Sibiu Literary Circle. A rebellious and eccentric figure, Nego ...

(1921–1993), Romanian literary historian, critic, poet, novelist and memoirist *

Ion Nistor Ion I. Nistor (August 16, 1876 – November 11, 1962) was a Romanian historian and politician. He was a titular member of the Romanian Academy from 1915 and a professor at the universities of Cernăuți and Bucharest, while also serving as Minis ...

(1876–1962), Romanian historian and politician *

Ion Ion (footballer) Ion Ion (born 21 June 1954) is a Romanian football manager and former player. In his coaching career he has coached several clubs from Oman, Bahrain, UAE and Qatar. He managed Steaua București for the 2017–18 season, but his contract was no ...

(born 1954), Romanian former footballer *

Ion Mihai Pacepa Ion Mihai Pacepa (; 28 October 1928 – 14 February 2021) was a Romanian two-star general in the Securitate, the secret police of the Socialist Republic of Romania, who defected to the United States in July 1978 following President Jimmy Carter' ...

(born 1928), Romanian security police three-star general who defected to the United States *

Ion Perdicaris Ion Hanford Perdicaris (April 1, 1840 – May 31, 1925) was an author, professor, lawyer, painter, and playwright. He was a humanitarian and human rights activist. He fought for the rights of Moors, Arabs and slaves. He was active in the anti-sl ...

(1840–1925), Greek-American playboy who was the centre of a notable kidnapping known as the Perdicaris incident *

Ion Heliade Rădulescu Ion Heliade Rădulescu or Ion Heliade (also known as ''Eliade'' or ''Eliade Rădulescu''; ; January 6, 1802 – April 27, 1872) was a Wallachian, later Romanian academic, Romanticism, Romantic and Classicism, Classicist poet, essayist, mem ...

(1802–1872), Wallachian, later Romanian academic, Romantic and Classicist poet, writer, newspaper editor and politician * Ion A. Rădulescu-Pogoneanu (1870–1945), Romanian pedagogue *

I. M. Rașcu I. M. Rașcu (most common rendition of Ion Rașcu; – 1971) was a Romanian poet of Symbolism (arts), Symbolist verse, cultural promoter, Comparative literature, comparatist, and schoolteacher. He is remembered for his participation in the Symboli ...

(1890–1971), Romanian poet, cultural promoter, comparatist and schoolteacher * Ion Roată (1806–1882), Moldavian, later Romanian peasant and politician * Ion Sân-Giorgiu (1893–1950), Romanian poet, dramatist, essayist, literary and art critic, journalist, academic and politician *

Ion Dezideriu Sîrbu Ion Dezideriu Sîrbu (also known as Ion Desideriu Sârbu; June 28, 1919 – September 17, 1989) was a Romanian philosopher, novelist, essayist and dramatist. Sîrbu was born in Petrila, Hunedoara. A university associate professor and theater c ...

(1919–1989), Romanian philosopher, novelist, essayist and dramatist * Ion Șiugariu (1914–1945), Romanian poet * Ion Tănăsescu (chemist) (1892–1959) * Ion Tănăsescu (surgeon) (1875–1954) * Ion Testemițanu (born 1974), Moldovan former footballer and current assistant manager of the Moldovan national football team *

Ion Ţiriac An ion () is an atom or molecule with a net electrical charge. The charge of an electron is considered to be negative by convention and this charge is equal and opposite to the charge of a proton, which is considered to be positive by conven ...

(born 1939), Romanian businessman and former tennis player *

Ion Trewin Ion Courtenay Gill Trewin (13 July 1943 – 8 April 2015) was a British editor, publisher and author. Biography Born in London, the son of J. C. Trewin and Wendy Trewin (''née'' Monk), Ion Trewin was educated at Highgate School. He was the li ...

(1943 – 2015), British editor and author * Ion Țuculescu (1910–1962), Romanian painter * Ion Țurai (1907–1970), Romanian surgeon *

Ion Voinescu Ion "Țop" Voinescu (18 April 1929 – 9 March 2018) was a Romanian footballer, who is often considered one of the finest goalkeepers Romania has ever produced. Voinescu joined his first club, Olympia București, in 1939 just before the start ...

(1929–2018), Romanian football goalkeeper

Ion as a surname

* Barry Ion (born 1941), Australian rules footballer and radio personality *

Corneliu Ion Corneliu Ion (born 27 June 1951) is a Romanian retired shooter who specialized in the 25 meter rapid fire pistol event. He competed at the 1976, 1980, 1984 and 1988 Olympics and won a gold medal in 1980 and a silver in 1984, placing fifth in 19 ...

(born 1951), Romanian sports shooter and 1980 Olympic champion *

(born 1954), Romanian former footballer * Patrick Ion (born 1942), American mathematician *

Sue Ion Dame Susan Elizabeth Ion (; née Burrows; born 3 February 1955) is a British engineer and an expert advisor on the nuclear power industry. Ion was elected a member of the National Academy of Engineering in 2012 for contributions to nuclear fue ...

(born 1955), British engineer, advisor on the nuclear power industry

Ion as a given name

Ion as a surname

See also