Jonetta
A feminine diminutive of the given name Joanna, derived from Hebrew meaning "God is gracious".
Name Census estimates that about 720 living Americans carry the first name Jonetta. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Jonetta today is around 54 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Jonetta births was 1979 (31 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Jonetta. 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
720
~ 1 in 476,048 Americans
Peak year
1979
31 babies that year
Average age
54
years old
2002 SSA rank
#12,827
Tracked since 1931
Popularity
Jonetta: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Jonetta from the 1930s through to the 2000s, spanning 8 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1960s, with 199 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1960s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Jonetta 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 Jonetta during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Jonettas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. Illinois, Ohio, Texas recorded the most babies named Jonetta, while Texas, Ohio, Illinois recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 5 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Jonetta
The name Jonetta is a feminine form of the Hebrew name Jonathan, which means "gift from God" or "God has given." It is a combination of the Hebrew elements "Yeho" meaning "God" and "nathan" meaning "to give." The name Jonathan has its roots in the Hebrew Bible, where it was borne by one of the sons of King Saul.
The name Jonetta emerged as a variant spelling in the English language, likely during the 18th or 19th century. It was initially used as a diminutive form of the name Joanna or Joan, which itself is derived from the Hebrew name Yohanan or John.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Jonetta can be found in the historical records of the United States. Jonetta Lane (1814-1893) was an American educator and philanthropist from Ohio, who was known for her work in establishing schools for African American children.
Another notable figure was Jonetta Barras (1936-1986), an American artist and author who was known for her children's books and illustrations. Her works included "The Corn Village" and "Peppermint Street," which celebrated African American culture and heritage.
In the realm of sports, Jonetta Renee Bolden (born 1963) is a former track and field athlete from the United States. She won a gold medal in the 4x100 meter relay at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea.
Moving to the entertainment industry, Jonetta Patton (born 1942) is an American singer and actress who rose to prominence in the 1960s. She is best known for her roles in Broadway musicals such as "The Wiz" and "Jelly's Last Jam."
Lastly, Jonetta Ann Rose (1936-2018) was a Canadian politician and activist. She was the first Black woman to be elected to the Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia, serving from 1975 to 1988 and advocating for social justice and equality.
These individuals, spanning various fields and time periods, have contributed to the rich history and legacy of the name Jonetta, showcasing its enduring appeal and versatility across cultures.
People
Jonetta + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Jonetta 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
Jonetta: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Jonetta?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 720 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Jonetta 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 476,048 US residents.
Is Jonetta a common name?
We classify Jonetta as "Very Rare". It ranks above 87.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 901 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Jonetta most popular?
The single biggest year for Jonetta was 1979, when 31 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Jonetta is about 54 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Jonetta a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Jonetta 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.