Today, zany is primarily used as an adjective to mean “bizarre” or “goofy”. This meaning first appeared in the 1610s, but prior to that, it was a noun referring to a type of masked clown in old comedies who imitated the actions of others. The term zany comes from Middle French zani, which is borrowed from Italian Zanni, a dialectal nickname for Giovanni, a recurring character in many comedies. The name Giovanni originates from Latin Iohannes, which comes from Ancient Greek Ioannes, ultimately deriving from the Hebrew word Yohanan meaning “God is gracious”. This connection makes the word zany related to names like Janice, Evan, Juan, Nina, Ivan, Hank, and Jonas, showcasing an interesting linguistic link.
