Meaning and Origin of: Jonathan

Boy name origins & meanings

• Hebrew : God's gift

What does Jonathan mean and stand for?

The name Jonathan is of Hebrew origin and means "God's gift" or "gift of Jehovah". It is derived from the Hebrew name Yehonatan, which contains the elements yeho (in reference to God) and natan (meaning “to give.”)

Syllables: 3

Boy name variations

Family name origins & meanings

• Jewish and Gentile (from northern Europe to South India) : from the Biblical name Jonathan, meaning ‘God has given’ in Hebrew. In the Bible this is the name of a son of King Saul, the close friend of the young David, whose friendship persisted even when Saul and David are themselves at loggerheads (1 Samuel 31; 2 Samuel 1:19–26).

Famous people who gave their babies this name

Popularity

According to Social Security Administration data, Jonathan has been consistently popular, only recently falling from the top 60 in 2019. From 2000 to 2012, Jonathan consistently remained in the top 40.

However, it is the 30th most popular name on FamilyEducation.com.

According to Google search data analysis, in the last five years Jonathan was at its peak popularity in August 2020.

Jonathan is the son of King Saul in the Old Testament, and his loyalty to brother-in-law David gave way to the expression "Jonathan and David" (used when describing steadfast friends). Originally a substitute for the name John, Jonathan has slowly begun to lose its momentum. In 2016, it saw a minor spike after Anne Hathoway named her son Jonathan.

Where is it Popular?

Jonathan was searched for most often in the following states:

Nicknames for Jonathan

• Jon
• Jono
• Jonny

Pairs well with these middle names