Gaon (gā'ōn) (Hebrew גאון) (plural geonim — gĕ'ōnīm) may have originated as a shortened version of "rosh yeshivat ge'on Ya'akov", although there are other proposed explanations. It referred in Ancient Hebrew to arrogance and haughty pride (Amos 6:8). Later became known as pride in general: whether good or bad ('Pride '; Late medieval and modern Hebrew for 'genius'). Today it may refer to:
- One of the Geonim, that is to say the heads of the two major academies, at Pumbedita and Sura, and later in Baghdad, during the period 589-1040. Prominent Geonim are:
- Sar Shalom
- Natronai II, Gaon of Sura (Gaon to 857)
- Amram Gaon, Gaon of Sura (Gaon 857-875)
- Hai Gaon
- Saadia Gaon
- Sherira Gaon
- Yehudai Gaon
- Samuel ben Hofni