Boy nameCurrently #126 in the USSteady
Jonah
JOH-nuh//ˈdʒoʊnə//
2 syllablesPeak year: 20085 lettersStarts with J
Meaning & origin
Dove
Jonah comes from the Hebrew word for dove, and belongs to the reluctant prophet swallowed by a great fish after fleeing his mission, one of the Bible's most memorable stories. Its gentle meaning and short, warm sound have made it a popular modern choice.
Jonah's popularity over time
| Year | Births named Jonah |
|---|---|
| 1880 | 8 |
| 1881 | 5 |
| 1882 | 5 |
| 1883 | 10 |
| 1884 | 11 |
| 1885 | 16 |
| 1887 | 11 |
| 1888 | 6 |
| 1889 | 7 |
| 1890 | 9 |
| 1891 | 8 |
| 1892 | 8 |
| 1893 | 7 |
| 1895 | 7 |
| 1896 | 5 |
| 1897 | 6 |
| 1898 | 8 |
| 1899 | 7 |
| 1900 | 11 |
| 1902 | 6 |
| 1903 | 5 |
| 1904 | 5 |
| 1905 | 7 |
| 1906 | 5 |
| 1907 | 10 |
| 1908 | 17 |
| 1909 | 5 |
| 1910 | 6 |
| 1911 | 18 |
| 1912 | 15 |
| 1913 | 18 |
| 1914 | 19 |
| 1915 | 33 |
| 1916 | 32 |
| 1917 | 25 |
| 1918 | 31 |
| 1919 | 25 |
| 1920 | 47 |
| 1921 | 33 |
| 1922 | 44 |
| 1923 | 32 |
| 1924 | 33 |
| 1925 | 33 |
| 1926 | 21 |
| 1927 | 29 |
| 1928 | 30 |
| 1929 | 27 |
| 1930 | 19 |
| 1931 | 17 |
| 1932 | 23 |
| 1933 | 24 |
| 1934 | 36 |
| 1935 | 27 |
| 1936 | 33 |
| 1937 | 24 |
| 1938 | 18 |
| 1939 | 31 |
| 1940 | 29 |
| 1941 | 26 |
| 1942 | 25 |
| 1943 | 31 |
| 1944 | 20 |
| 1945 | 30 |
| 1946 | 26 |
| 1947 | 19 |
| 1948 | 26 |
| 1949 | 17 |
| 1950 | 22 |
| 1951 | 36 |
| 1952 | 38 |
| 1953 | 32 |
| 1954 | 20 |
| 1955 | 43 |
| 1956 | 32 |
| 1957 | 28 |
| 1958 | 25 |
| 1959 | 22 |
| 1960 | 28 |
| 1961 | 21 |
| 1962 | 33 |
| 1963 | 25 |
| 1964 | 36 |
| 1965 | 33 |
| 1966 | 20 |
| 1967 | 30 |
| 1968 | 39 |
| 1969 | 44 |
| 1970 | 70 |
| 1971 | 161 |
| 1972 | 154 |
| 1973 | 130 |
| 1974 | 151 |
| 1975 | 132 |
| 1976 | 190 |
| 1977 | 233 |
| 1978 | 168 |
| 1979 | 400 |
| 1980 | 402 |
| 1981 | 392 |
| 1982 | 296 |
| 1983 | 260 |
| 1984 | 276 |
| 1985 | 277 |
| 1986 | 241 |
| 1987 | 290 |
| 1988 | 243 |
| 1989 | 266 |
| 1990 | 246 |
| 1991 | 252 |
| 1992 | 235 |
| 1993 | 459 |
| 1994 | 1,190 |
| 1995 | 1,383 |
| 1996 | 1,583 |
| 1997 | 1,641 |
| 1998 | 1,482 |
| 1999 | 1,728 |
| 2000 | 1,851 |
| 2001 | 1,997 |
| 2002 | 2,332 |
| 2003 | 2,446 |
| 2004 | 2,315 |
| 2005 | 2,239 |
| 2006 | 2,432 |
| 2007 | 2,536 |
| 2008 | 2,998 |
| 2009 | 2,734 |
| 2010 | 2,798 |
| 2011 | 2,890 |
| 2012 | 2,972 |
| 2013 | 2,920 |
| 2014 | 2,946 |
| 2015 | 2,937 |
| 2016 | 2,804 |
| 2017 | 2,546 |
| 2018 | 2,761 |
| 2019 | 2,714 |
| 2020 | 2,841 |
| 2021 | 2,763 |
| 2022 | 2,767 |
| 2023 | 2,928 |
| 2024 | 2,904 |
Jonah through the decades
- Jonah peaked in 2008, when 2,998 babies were named Jonah in the US.
- The 2020s were Jonah's strongest decade, averaging 2,841 births a year.
- Jonah currently ranks #126 in the US and is holding steady.
Nicknames
Jonah
Variants & spellings
Jonas