Jonee
A feminine variant of the masculine name Jonathan meaning "gift of God".
Name Census estimates that about 276 living Americans carry the first name Jonee. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Jonee today is around 38 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Jonee births was 1997 (23 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Jonee. 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
276
~ 1 in 1,241,864 Americans
Peak year
1997
23 babies that year
Average age
38
years old
2003 SSA rank
#16,934
Tracked since 1954
Popularity
Jonee: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Jonee from the 1950s through to the 2000s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 127 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1990s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Jonee 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 Jonee during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Jonees live
Origin
Meaning and history of Jonee
The name Jonee is an anglicized form of the Hebrew name Yonah, meaning "dove" or "pigeon." It has its origins in ancient Semitic languages, with similar spellings found in Aramaic, Arabic, and other related tongues. The dove symbolizes peace, purity, and the presence of the Holy Spirit in various religious traditions.
The name Yonah appears in the Old Testament, where it is borne by the prophet Jonah, who was famously swallowed by a large fish or whale. This biblical story, found in the Book of Jonah, dates back to around the 8th century BCE and has been a source of inspiration for artists and writers throughout history.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Jonee can be found in medieval English records from the 12th century, where it appears as a variant of the more common John or Jon. It likely emerged as a diminutive or nickname form during this period.
In the 16th century, the Italian painter and architect Jonee Bernardo di Starna (c. 1510-1571) was a notable figure who bore this name. He worked on several projects in Rome and was known for his frescoes and architectural designs.
Another historical figure was Jonee de Vries (1535-1598), a Dutch theologian and humanist who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation. He was a prominent scholar and authored several influential works on theology and philosophy.
In the 18th century, the French painter Jonee-Baptiste Oudry (1686-1755) was renowned for his depictions of hunting scenes and animals. His paintings were highly sought after by the French aristocracy and are now displayed in prestigious museums around the world.
The American poet and abolitionist Jonee Greenleaf Whittier (1807-1892) was a prominent figure in the 19th century. His works often addressed themes of social justice, abolition, and the beauty of nature, and he was a highly respected voice in the literary circles of his time.
Lastly, the British explorer and sailor Jonee Franklin (1786-1847) is remembered for his ill-fated Arctic expedition in search of the Northwest Passage. While the expedition ultimately ended in tragedy, Franklin's bravery and determination have been celebrated in numerous books and films.
People
Jonee + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Jonee 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
Jonee: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Jonee?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 276 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Jonee 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 1,241,864 US residents.
Is Jonee a common name?
We classify Jonee as "Very Rare". It ranks above 78.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 295 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Jonee most popular?
The single biggest year for Jonee was 1997, when 23 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Jonee is about 38 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Jonee a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Jonee in the SSA data are female. 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.