Baby Names Boy Names Jonathan Name Meaning Jonathan is often used as a boy name. Learn more about the meaning, origin, and popularity of the name Jonathan. By Meena Azzollini Published on June 24, 2024 Fact checked by Karen Cilli In This Article View All In This Article How Popular Is the Name Jonathan? Name Variations Similar Names Common Nicknames for Jonathan Suggested Sibling Names for Jonathan Famous People Named Jonathan Close If you’re looking for a strong biblical name, then Jonathan is a great option to consider. Jonathan is a Hebrew name meaning “God has given.” It is a shortened version of the name Jehonathan or yehōnātān (Yahweh has given). Yahweh is the god of the Israelites, whose name was revealed to Moses in the form of four Hebrew consonants. The name is derived from two Hebrew elements; yeho referring to the Hebrew God and natan meaning “to give.” The name Jonathan also appears in the Old Testament, where Jonathan was the oldest son of King Saul, and portrayed as a man of great strength. Read on to learn about the name Jonathan, its popularity, variations, and famous people with the name. Origin: Jonathan is a Hebrew name meaning “God has given.”Gender: Jonathan is commonly used as a boy’s name.Pronunciation: jo-na-than Editor's Note Although many baby names are separated by gender, Parents believes that sex does not need to play a role in your name selection process. It’s important to select a name that you feel suits your new baby the best. How Popular Is the Name Jonathan? Jonathan is one of the most popular names with a strong biblical connection. It also features in other languages throughout the world. The name Jonathan has been on the US popularity charts since 1880 when it appeared in the top 500 names. Around the 1940s, the popularity of the name started steadily increasing around the world, while it continued to feature in the top 500 in the US. By the 1950s, the name started picking up steam. By the early 1960s, it was one of the top 100 names for boys. The 1970s saw the name in the top 50 names and the 1980s was when Jonathan was most popular. In fact, the name reached peak popularity in 1988, when it hit number 15, according to the Social Security Administration data. Jonathan was listed in the top 50 names in the US every year from 1969 through 2015. Since then, its popularity has dropped a bit, and it ranked 82nd in 2023. Name Variations The following are variations of the name Jonathan: Gionata (Italian) Honatana (Maori) Ionakana (Hawaiian) Ionathan (Biblical Latin) Janathan (Hebrew) Jhonathan (Hebrew) Johnathan (English) Johnathon (English) Jonacani (Fijian) Jonasan (Japanese) Jonatan (Spanish, German, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian) Jônatas (Portuguese) Jonatha (Hebrew) Jonathas (French) Jonathon (English) Jonatyn (Hebrew)) Yehonatan (Biblical Hebrew) Yonatan (Biblical Hebrew) Yonoson (Biblical Hebrew) Similar Names Names with similar meaning as Jonathan: Mathew (Gift of God)Nathaniel (God has given)Theodore (God’s gift) Other biblical boy names: AsherCalebElijahEzekielIsaiahJohnJoshuaJosiahSamuelThaddeusTobiasZachary Other boy names starting with J: JacksonJackJacobJamesJamesonJasperJavierJaydenJaysonJeremyJerichoJeromeJesseJettJoaquinJoelJohanJonahJordanJudeJustin Common Nicknames for Jonathan Here are some common nicknames for the name Jonathan: JayJohnnyJonJonnyJontyYoni Suggested Sibling Names for Jonathan Looking for a sibling name for Jonathan? Here are some popular options: AndrewBenjaminBetteCeciliaChristopherDanielDavidElizabethEmilyEmmaHannahIsabellaJessicaJosephMadisonMichaelNatalieNicholasRachelSamanthaSarah SophiaWalterWilliam Famous People Named Jonathan Many notable Jonathans embody the strength and perseverance associated with this name, including the TV show Queer Eye grooming expert and activist Jonathan Van Ness, professional basketball player for the Orlando Magic Jonathan Judah Isaac, and Sir Jonathan Paul Ive, who was the former chief design officer at Apple. Famous Jonathans Jonathan Banks, American actor known for his roles in Airplane!, Beverly Hills Cop, Breaking Bad, and Better Call Saul.Jonathan Franzen, American novelist and essayist known for the critically acclaimed novel The Corrections.Jonathan H. Smith, better known by his stage name Lil Jon, is an American rapper, songwriter, DJ, and record producer who won a Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Performance.Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Irish actor, model, and musician known for his role in the TV miniseries Elvis and historical drama The Tudors.Jonathan Swift, Anglo-Irish satirist, essayist, and poet known for works such as Gulliver's Travels and A Modest Proposal.Robert Jonathan Demme, acclaimed American film director, producer, and screenwriter known for winning the Academy Award for Best Director for The Silence of the Lambs. Fictional Jonathans: Jonathan Archer, Captain on the TV series Star Trek: EnterpriseJonathan Bower, a character on the '80s sitcom Who's the Boss?Jonathan Harker, a main protagonist in the horror novel DraculaJonathan Livingston Seagull, the title character in Richard Bach’s novellaJonathan Quayle Higgins III, a character in the 1980–1988 comedy and crime television series, Magnum, P.I. More Baby Names Still searching for the perfect baby name? Check out these related baby name lists for even more options: Top 1,000 Baby Boy Names 50 Mythological Baby Names 50 Pop Culture Baby Names Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources Parents uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Popularity of a name. Social Security Administration. n.d.