Find out how popular the first name Jonah has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Jonah by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Jonah is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 99% of people named Jonah being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 2,874 male babies and 33 female babies born with the name Jonah.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 33 baby girls were named Jonah in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Jonah

The given name Jonah has its origins in the ancient Hebrew language. It is derived from the Hebrew word "Yonah," which means "dove" or "pigeon." The name's roots can be traced back to around the 8th century BCE.

Jonah is a prominent name in the Bible, appearing in the Book of Jonah, which recounts the story of the prophet who was swallowed by a giant fish or whale. The narrative is believed to have been written between the 5th and 3rd centuries BCE.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Jonah can be found in the Bible. Jonah, the son of Amittai, was a prophet from Gath-hepher in ancient Israel who played a pivotal role in the biblical narrative.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Jonah. One of the most famous was Jonah Ibn Janah, a renowned Hebrew grammarian and lexicographer who lived in Spain from around 990 to 1050 CE. His works significantly influenced the study of Hebrew grammar and linguistics.

Another historical figure named Jonah was Jonah Furman, a prominent American Revolutionary War soldier. He was born in 1735 and served as a captain in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, participating in several key battles.

In the realm of literature, Jonah Ludwig Hallgarten was a German-American writer and translator born in 1838. He is known for his translations of works by notable authors like Henrik Ibsen and Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson from Norwegian to English.

Jonah Barrington was an Irish writer, judge, and politician who lived from 1756 to 1834. He is remembered for his memoirs, which provide valuable insights into the social and political climate of Ireland during his lifetime.

Lastly, Jonah Lomu was a legendary New Zealand rugby union player who was born in 1975 and passed away in 2015. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest rugby players of all time, known for his incredible size, speed, and power on the field.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Jonah was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Jonah, please contact us.

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