Rising since 1988, #2,941 for boys today.
Popularity of Yonah since 1974
Babies named Yonah per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 11 |
| 1980s | 80 |
| 1990s | 123 |
| 2000s | 228 |
| 2010s | 255 |
| 2020s | 214 |
Meaning & origin
Yonah, the Hebrew form of Jonah, entered U.S. records in 1974 and has seen a gradual rise in usage, particularly since 1988. In 2025, it ranked 2941st, with about 1 in 40,668 boys receiving the name. Its peak year so far is 2024, and it remains most common in New York and New Jersey. The name's biblical connection to the prophet Jonah gives it a strong cultural foundation, while its soft sound and animal meaning appeal to modern parents seeking a distinctive yet traditional name.
Yonah is a Hebrew name derived from the word 'yonah' meaning 'dove'. In the Hebrew Bible, Yonah (Jonah) is a prophet who was swallowed by a great fish. The name has been used by Jewish communities for centuries and has gained some modern usage outside of these communities.
Where Yonah is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Yonah” around the world
Where Yonah lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
10
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Yoni
Sibling names for Yonah
Names that share Yonah's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Noa, Maya, Talia, Leah, Naomi, Ahuva, Aviella, Aviyah, Ayala, Galia, Hila, Katriel, Lielle, Shira, Shoshana, Tali, Tehila, Zahava, Amalya, Ayelet, Hodaya, Mazal, Temima, Yaffa, Yenty, Zohar, Gali, Ahavah, Atalya, Chavi, Hadara, Hadasah, Liel, Orah, Raaya, Sarit, Shalva, Shirah, Tehilla, Yafa, Yanai, Zehava
Brothers: Eli, Levi, Ezra, Asher, Micah, Akiva, Barak, Eitan, Lior, Ronit, Uziel, Amitai, Aviv, Nissim, Rishon, Tuvia, Adir, Aitan, Chananya, Dagan, Eliav, Imri, Navon, Ovadia
