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

Popularity of Yonah by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Yonah is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 97% of people named Yonah being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 33 male babies and 9 female babies born with the name Yonah.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 9 baby girls were named Yonah in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Yonah

The name Yonah has its origins in the Hebrew language and Jewish culture. It is derived from the Hebrew word "yonah," which means "dove." The name is believed to have been in use since ancient times, possibly dating back to the biblical era.

One of the earliest and most notable references to the name Yonah is found in the Book of Jonah, one of the prophetic books in the Hebrew Bible. The book tells the story of Jonah, a prophet who was called by God to preach to the city of Nineveh but initially fled from his mission before eventually fulfilling it.

In addition to its biblical significance, the name Yonah has been used throughout Jewish history. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is Yonah Marin, a Jewish scholar who lived in the 14th century and authored several works on Hebrew grammar and biblical exegesis.

Another notable figure named Yonah was Yonah Rabah, a 16th-century Jewish scholar and kabbalist from Safed, Palestine. He was known for his influential works on Jewish mysticism and the Kabbalah.

In the 17th century, Yonah Teomim was a prominent Italian rabbi and scholar who wrote extensively on Jewish law and ethics. He is particularly remembered for his work "Kav Naki," a commentary on the Shulchan Arukh, a important code of Jewish law.

Moving forward in time, Yonah Schonfeld was a 20th-century American Orthodox rabbi and author who founded the Orthodox Jewish Outreach program, an organization dedicated to promoting Jewish education and outreach.

One of the most famous modern individuals with the name Yonah is Yonah Schimmel, an American businessman and restaurateur who founded the iconic Yonah Schimmel Knish Bakery in New York City in 1910. The bakery, known for its delicious knishes (a type of pastry), has become a beloved institution and a symbol of Jewish culinary tradition.

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 Yonah was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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