Declining since 1985, #951 for boys today.
Popularity of Jon since 1898
Babies named Jon per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 5 |
| 1900s | 5 |
| 1910s | 191 |
| 1920s | 540 |
| 1930s | 6,364 |
| 1940s | 19,033 |
| 1950s | 28,950 |
| 1960s | 44,879 |
| 1970s | 28,690 |
| 1980s | 17,704 |
| 1990s | 10,364 |
| 2000s | 6,241 |
| 2010s | 3,582 |
| 2020s | 1,594 |
Meaning & origin
Jon is a concise, classic name that has long been used as a simplified spelling of Jonathan. According to Social Security data, the name first appeared in U.S. records in 1898 and reached its highest popularity in 1965, when it ranked among the top names for boys. Since 1985, its usage has steadily declined, reflecting a broader shift away from traditional short forms in favor of more varied choices. In 2025, Jon ranked 951st, with an estimated 1 in 6,943 newborn boys receiving the name. It has historically been most common in Southern states, including Mississippi, Alabama, and Arkansas. Despite its waning popularity, Jon remains a straightforward and familiar option in an era of creative spellings.
Jon is a shortened form of Jonathan, which comes from the Hebrew name Yonatan (Yehonatan), meaning "Yahweh has given" or "God is gracious." In the Old Testament, Jonathan is the son of King Saul and a close friend of David. The spelling Jon emerged as a simplified variant, particularly in English-speaking countries, and has been in use since the 19th century. It saw a surge in popularity in the mid-20th century.
Where Jon is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Jon” around the world
Where Jon lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
20
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Johnny
Sibling names for Jon
Names that share Jon's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Jane, Anne, Claire, Beth, Sarah, Jonette, Khaleesi, Ainhoa, Daenerys, Arantxa, Jonetta, Khalessi, Naiara, Ainhara, Ainoha, Kaleesi, Koni, Lorea, Sansa, Alazne, Kalese, Khaleesia, Nerea
Brothers: James, David, Michael, Robert, William, Mikel, Adrin, Eider, Iban, Tyrion, Asier, Inaki, Pao, Stark, Zorion, Andoni, Ran
Names like Jon
Names whose popularity has moved with Jon's over the last 50 years.
