The name John is a theophoric name originating from the Hebrew name (), or in its longer form (), meaning "Yahweh has been gracious". Several obscure figures in the Old Testament bore this name, and it grew in popularity once borne by the high priest Johanan and especially by king John Hyrcanus In the second temple period, it was the fifth most popular male name among Jews in Judaea and was borne by several important rabbis, such as Yochanan ben Zakai and Yochanan ben Nuri. The name has also long extended among Semitic women Near Eastern Christian peoples such as the Assyrians, Syriac Arameans and Maronites, with various derivatives extant, such as "Younan", "Yonan", "Youkhanna" and "Youkhanan".