﴿ يَٰزَكَرِيَّآ إِنَّا نُبَشِّرُكَ بِغُلَٰمٍ ٱسْمُهُۥ يَحْيَىٰ لَمْ نَجْعَل لَّهُۥ مِن قَبْلُ سَمِيًّۭا ﴾

“[Thereupon the angels called out unto him: "O Zachariah! We bring thee the glad tiding of [the birth of] a son whose name shall be John. [And God says,] `Never have We given this name to anyone before him."”

God exalted be He in responding to his request for a son that will be the incarnation of His mercy says ‘O Zachariah! Indeed We give you good tidings of a boy who will inherit in the way that you have requested — whose name is John. Never before have We made anyone his namesake’ that is never has there been anyone with the name ‘John’.