חואן

Juan is a personal name of Spanish-Latin origin, representing the Spanish and Portuguese form of the biblical name Yochanan (John). The name is particularly common in Spanish-speaking countries worldwide and is one of the most popular names in Hispanic culture. Among Sephardic Jews, the name Juan was especially prevalent before the Spanish Expulsion of 1492, when many Jews adopted local names while maintaining their Jewish identity. The name originates from the Hebrew "Yochanan," meaning "God has been gracious" or "God's grace," and underwent a linguistic adaptation process through Greek (Ioannes) and Latin (Johannes) before reaching its familiar Spanish form. In Judeo-Spanish culture, the name Juan carries dual significance: on one hand, it represents a deep connection to biblical tradition and the name Yochanan appearing in the Hebrew Bible, and on the other hand, it symbolizes the Golden Age of Spanish Jewry when a rich cultural symbiosis existed. Many Jews who bore the name Juan were part of Spain's intellectual and economic elite, and the name became a symbol of cultural integration on one side and preservation of Jewish identity on the other. In many cases, Conversos (forced converts to Christianity) who were converted under duress continued to use Juan as their official name while secretly maintaining their Hebrew name Yochanan. Today, the name Juan carries significance of cultural pride and rich heritage for Jews of Sephardic and Latino descent. It represents a bridge between the Jewish world and the Hispanic world, serving as testimony to a multifaceted Jewish culture that knew how to exist and flourish in various cultural environments. Many Jewish families of Sephardic origin continue to name their sons Juan as a way to preserve the historical memory of Spanish Jewry and perpetuate the connection to the rich cultural heritage that existed in the Iberian Peninsula for centuries. The name also recalls the moving stories of Converso families who returned to Judaism after generations and reclaimed their original Hebrew names.

חוּאַן

Juan | John | Yochanan

Boy

Yes

2 Kings 25:23 (historical context) - And the king said to him, What is your name? And he said, Yochanan

In Kabbalah, the name Juan as a manifestation of Yochanan symbolizes divine grace and spiritual abundance descending from the upper sefirah. The letter Chet at the beginning represents vitality and life, while the remaining letters indicate divine grace and holy presence.

65

2

Juan Perón - Argentine statesman | Juan Carlos I - Former King of Spain | Juan Mata - Spanish footballer

יוחנן | ג'ון | יוני | חנן | יוחאי