Jonas

Meaning & origin

Jonas has a dual heritage: it is both the Greek and Latin form of the biblical Jonah and a Scandinavian variant of John. In the United States, it first appeared on the Social Security roster in 1880, the earliest year of record. After modest early use, the name reached its peak rank of 200th in 2008. Since 2007 its trajectory has been gently falling, though it remains in steady use. In 2024 it stood at rank 599, with roughly 1 in 3,588 newborn boys receiving the name. The name saw its highest popularity in states such as New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Idaho. Jonas carries a straightforward biblical meaning of 'dove' and continues to appeal to parents seeking a name that is both classic and refreshingly simple.

Jonas derives from the Hebrew name Yonah, meaning 'dove'. It appears in the Old Testament as the prophet Jonah, who was swallowed by a great fish. The Greek form Iōnas was used in the New Testament, and the name spread through Latin into European languages. In Scandinavia, Jonas became common as a variant of John, while in Germanic regions it remained tied to the biblical figure.