Janathan
A name of uncertain origin meaning "gift from God" or "God's gift".
Name Census estimates that about 367 living Americans carry the first name Janathan. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Janathan today is around 34 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Janathan births was 1988 (22 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Janathan. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
367
~ 1 in 933,936 Americans
Peak year
1988
22 babies that year
Average age
34
years old
2013 SSA rank
#11,340
Tracked since 1962
Popularity
Janathan: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Janathan from the 1960s through to the 2010s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 162 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1980s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Janathan by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Janathan during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Janathans live
Origin
Meaning and history of Janathan
The name Janathan originates from the Hebrew language and culture, with its earliest known usage dating back to ancient times. It is believed to be a variant spelling of the biblical name Jonathan, derived from the Hebrew words "Yonatan" or "Yehonatan," which translate to "Yahweh has given" or "the gift of God."
The name Jonathan is mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible, most notably as the name of the son of King Saul and a close friend of David. This biblical figure, Jonathan, played a significant role in the story of David's rise to power and is remembered for his loyalty and friendship.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Janathan was Janathan Edwards, an American revivalist preacher, philosopher, and theologian, born in 1703. He was a prominent figure in the Great Awakening, a religious revival movement that swept through the American colonies in the 18th century.
Another notable figure was Janathan Swift, an Anglo-Irish satirist, essayist, and poet, born in 1667. He is best known for his satirical works, including "Gulliver's Travels" and "A Modest Proposal," which satirized the political and social issues of his time.
In the 19th century, Janathan Franzen was a German-American author and playwright, born in 1809. He wrote several plays and novels that explored themes of immigration, cultural identity, and the challenges faced by German-Americans during that period.
Moving forward in time, Janathan Kozol, an American writer, educator, and activist, was born in 1936. He is known for his work in advocating for educational reform and promoting social justice, particularly in underprivileged urban communities.
Lastly, Janathan Ive, a British industrial designer, was born in 1967. He is best known for his work as the former Chief Design Officer at Apple Inc., where he played a crucial role in designing iconic products such as the iMac, iPod, iPhone, and iPad.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have carried the name Janathan, each leaving their unique mark in their respective fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of human culture and achievement.
People
Janathan + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Janathan as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with J
Other first names starting with J with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Janathan: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Janathan?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 367 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Janathan going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 933,936 US residents.
Is Janathan a common name?
We classify Janathan as "Very Rare". It ranks above 81.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 380 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Janathan most popular?
The single biggest year for Janathan was 1988, when 22 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Janathan is about 34 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Janathan a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Janathan in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.