Fun Facts About the Name Jonathan
- An all-time favorite: U.S. records show 870,813 boys named Jonathan from 1880 through 2025.
- Decades of popularity: Jonathan stayed in the U.S. top 100 for 64 consecutive years, from 1962 through 2025.
- Still popular, but losing ground: Jonathan's rank fell 66 places between 1995 and 2025, while remaining in the top 100.
- More than 874 thousand babies named Jonathan: U.S. records list 874,388 babies given the name Jonathan from 1880 through 2025. Even 3,575 girls received the name Jonathan - about 1 girl for every 244 boys.
What Does the Name Jonathan Mean?
Jonathan means "Yahweh has given" and comes from Hebrew. The name is built from two elements: Yeho-, a shortened form of the divine name יְהוָה (YHWH), and natan, the verb "to give" (in context, "he has given"). Together they form יְהוֹנָתָן (Yehonatan), a sentence-like name declaring that God has granted the child. The shorter Hebrew form יוֹנָתָן (Yonatan) is also found, and the longer form is sometimes written Jehonathan in English Bibles. The customary English gloss "gift of God" is a looser paraphrase of the same statement, not a separate etymology.
Jonathan shares its second element with other Hebrew names such as Nathan ("he gave") and Nethanel ("God has given"), but it is a distinct name. It is also unrelated to John, despite the similar beginning: John derives from a different Hebrew root meaning "Yahweh is gracious," and the two names are not variants of each other.
Jonathan Name History & Origins
The name appears in the Hebrew Bible in both the long form יְהוֹנָתָן and the short form יוֹנָתָן. Its best-known bearer is Jonathan, son of King Saul and close friend of David, whose story is told in the books of Samuel. Other figures carry the name as well, including a son of the priest Abiathar and several men listed in Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah, where the longer Jehonathan spelling appears. Because these texts were translated into Greek and then Latin, the name reached Europe in those forms: Greek Ιωνάθαν and Latin Ionathan. The th of the English spelling reflects Greek theta in that chain of transmission rather than the Hebrew letter tav alone.
English use of Jonathan grew mainly out of the Bible. Old Testament names came into wider favor among English-speaking Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries, and Jonathan was among them; the surviving English surname Jonathan points to the same period of use. The name was carried by figures such as the writer Jonathan Swift in the 18th century. Familiar short forms include Jon and Jonny, with Jonty used chiefly in Britain. Other languages have their own equivalents, for example Spanish Jonatán, Italian Gionata, and French Jonathan.
How Popular is the Name Jonathan?
Jonathan remained among the top 100 boy names in the U.S. from 1962 to 2025. Its highest annual birth count was in 1988, and people born that year turn 38 in 2026.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #15,980 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2023 | #14,199 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2022 | #11,670 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2021 | #16,342 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2020 | #10,650 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 2019 | #14,591 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2018 | #13,068 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2017 | #14,927 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2016 | #7,407 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2015 | #9,771 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2014 | #10,509 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2013 | #9,282 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2012 | #10,804 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2011 | #6,236 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 2010 | #8,474 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2009 | #8,644 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2008 | #7,206 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2007 | #5,794 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 2006 | #5,153 | 27 | 0.0014% |
| 2005 | #4,883 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 2004 | #2,274 | 77 | 0.0042% |
| 2003 | #4,147 | 32 | 0.0018% |
| 2002 | #3,761 | 35 | 0.0019% |
| 2001 | #3,445 | 39 | 0.0022% |
| 2000 | #2,918 | 49 | 0.0027% |
| 1999 | #3,345 | 38 | 0.0021% |
| 1998 | #3,323 | 37 | 0.0021% |
| 1997 | #2,848 | 43 | 0.0025% |
| 1996 | #2,190 | 62 | 0.0035% |
| 1995 | #2,353 | 56 | 0.0032% |
| 1994 | #1,878 | 76 | 0.0043% |
| 1993 | #1,971 | 71 | 0.0039% |
| 1992 | #2,113 | 64 | 0.0035% |
| 1991 | #1,693 | 87 | 0.0046% |
| 1990 | #1,626 | 92 | 0.0048% |
| 1989 | #1,455 | 101 | 0.0055% |
| 1988 | #1,001 | 164 | 0.0092% |
| 1987 | #924 | 179 | 0.0103% |
| 1986 | #923 | 174 | 0.0101% |
| 1985 | #884 | 181 | 0.0105% |
| 1984 | #842 | 183 | 0.0109% |
| 1983 | #863 | 177 | 0.0106% |
| 1982 | #902 | 168 | 0.0099% |
| 1981 | #962 | 153 | 0.0092% |
| 1980 | #1,252 | 104 | 0.0063% |
| 1979 | #1,488 | 80 | 0.0050% |
| 1978 | #1,427 | 81 | 0.0053% |
| 1977 | #1,387 | 81 | 0.0053% |
| 1976 | #1,320 | 82 | 0.0056% |
| 1975 | #1,718 | 55 | 0.0038% |
| 1974 | #1,537 | 63 | 0.0043% |
| 1973 | #1,500 | 63 | 0.0043% |
| 1972 | #1,735 | 51 | 0.0034% |
| 1971 | #1,946 | 44 | 0.0026% |
| 1970 | #2,251 | 35 | 0.0020% |
| 1969 | #2,319 | 31 | 0.0018% |
| 1968 | #2,666 | 23 | 0.0014% |
| 1967 | #2,815 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 1966 | #2,798 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 1965 | #3,322 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1964 | #2,955 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1963 | #3,243 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1962 | #3,504 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1961 | #2,786 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1960 | #4,028 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1959 | #4,448 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1958 | #5,118 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1957 | #3,566 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1956 | #5,582 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1955 | #3,663 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1954 | #4,444 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #89 | 3,822 | 0.2238% |
| 2024 | #83 | 4,018 | 0.2342% |
| 2023 | #82 | 4,088 | 0.2393% |
| 2022 | #79 | 4,213 | 0.2415% |
| 2021 | #77 | 4,458 | 0.2550% |
| 2020 | #70 | 4,755 | 0.2756% |
| 2019 | #64 | 5,466 | 0.3048% |
| 2018 | #63 | 5,774 | 0.3180% |
| 2017 | #55 | 6,527 | 0.3528% |
| 2016 | #56 | 6,980 | 0.3679% |
| 2015 | #48 | 7,656 | 0.3995% |
| 2014 | #44 | 8,120 | 0.4228% |
| 2013 | #41 | 8,575 | 0.4534% |
| 2012 | #34 | 9,369 | 0.4940% |
| 2011 | #31 | 10,253 | 0.5399% |
| 2010 | #28 | 11,140 | 0.5807% |
| 2009 | #29 | 11,384 | 0.5740% |
| 2008 | #26 | 12,904 | 0.6326% |
| 2007 | #23 | 13,809 | 0.6654% |
| 2006 | #22 | 14,387 | 0.7001% |
| 2005 | #19 | 14,442 | 0.7231% |
| 2004 | #21 | 14,375 | 0.7243% |
| 2003 | #22 | 14,993 | 0.7590% |
| 2002 | #21 | 15,514 | 0.7991% |
| 2001 | #23 | 16,146 | 0.8311% |
| 2000 | #21 | 16,888 | 0.8599% |
| 1999 | #22 | 17,066 | 0.8888% |
| 1998 | #21 | 17,649 | 0.9234% |
| 1997 | #21 | 18,541 | 0.9836% |
| 1996 | #21 | 18,602 | 0.9820% |
| 1995 | #23 | 18,155 | 0.9537% |
| 1994 | #23 | 19,068 | 0.9870% |
| 1993 | #22 | 19,952 | 1.0173% |
| 1992 | #21 | 21,415 | 1.0722% |
| 1991 | #20 | 22,975 | 1.1372% |
| 1990 | #17 | 24,077 | 1.1722% |
| 1989 | #17 | 23,607 | 1.1798% |
| 1988 | #15 | 24,348 | 1.2720% |
| 1987 | #18 | 23,120 | 1.2384% |
| 1986 | #16 | 23,973 | 1.3018% |
| 1985 | #17 | 24,116 | 1.3048% |
| 1984 | #19 | 23,344 | 1.2933% |
| 1983 | #19 | 22,756 | 1.2694% |
| 1982 | #16 | 23,114 | 1.2738% |
| 1981 | #16 | 22,593 | 1.2613% |
| 1980 | #21 | 18,988 | 1.0643% |
| 1979 | #31 | 14,333 | 0.8325% |
| 1978 | #31 | 12,514 | 0.7621% |
| 1977 | #28 | 12,322 | 0.7498% |
| 1976 | #31 | 11,315 | 0.7211% |
| 1975 | #30 | 10,903 | 0.6983% |
| 1974 | #33 | 10,231 | 0.6506% |
| 1973 | #31 | 10,271 | 0.6590% |
| 1972 | #37 | 9,223 | 0.5687% |
| 1971 | #40 | 8,629 | 0.4879% |
| 1970 | #42 | 8,194 | 0.4409% |
| 1969 | #46 | 7,082 | 0.3960% |
| 1968 | #53 | 5,806 | 0.3341% |
| 1967 | #56 | 4,920 | 0.2821% |
| 1966 | #65 | 4,663 | 0.2615% |
| 1965 | #74 | 4,723 | 0.2539% |
| 1964 | #83 | 4,646 | 0.2331% |
| 1963 | #88 | 4,469 | 0.2201% |
| 1962 | #94 | 4,255 | 0.2057% |
| 1961 | #112 | 3,483 | 0.1640% |
| 1960 | #118 | 3,341 | 0.1567% |
| 1959 | #124 | 3,083 | 0.1444% |
| 1958 | #124 | 3,083 | 0.1453% |
| 1957 | #124 | 3,049 | 0.1413% |
| 1956 | #114 | 3,125 | 0.1477% |
| 1955 | #116 | 3,023 | 0.1468% |
| 1954 | #121 | 2,743 | 0.1345% |
| 1953 | #133 | 2,335 | 0.1184% |
| 1952 | #139 | 2,063 | 0.1061% |
| 1951 | #147 | 1,775 | 0.0943% |
| 1950 | #163 | 1,538 | 0.0859% |
| 1949 | #164 | 1,432 | 0.0807% |
| 1948 | #173 | 1,283 | 0.0731% |
| 1947 | #177 | 1,197 | 0.0654% |
| 1946 | #173 | 1,102 | 0.0679% |
| 1945 | #179 | 881 | 0.0655% |
| 1944 | #217 | 639 | 0.0469% |
| 1943 | #245 | 575 | 0.0403% |
| 1942 | #243 | 553 | 0.0400% |
| 1941 | #303 | 359 | 0.0292% |
| 1940 | #342 | 276 | 0.0238% |
| 1939 | #318 | 295 | 0.0267% |
| 1938 | #363 | 235 | 0.0212% |
| 1937 | #397 | 197 | 0.0185% |
| 1936 | #427 | 172 | 0.0166% |
| 1935 | #439 | 167 | 0.0160% |
| 1934 | #498 | 133 | 0.0129% |
| 1933 | #500 | 126 | 0.0127% |
| 1932 | #540 | 118 | 0.0113% |
| 1931 | #542 | 117 | 0.0113% |
| 1930 | #603 | 103 | 0.0094% |
| 1929 | #645 | 91 | 0.0085% |
| 1928 | #577 | 115 | 0.0104% |
| 1927 | #597 | 108 | 0.0096% |
| 1926 | #609 | 106 | 0.0095% |
| 1925 | #589 | 114 | 0.0102% |
| 1924 | #655 | 97 | 0.0086% |
| 1923 | #652 | 97 | 0.0088% |
| 1922 | #599 | 117 | 0.0108% |
| 1921 | #573 | 122 | 0.0111% |
| 1920 | #596 | 111 | 0.0104% |
| 1919 | #725 | 77 | 0.0079% |
| 1918 | #688 | 83 | 0.0082% |
| 1917 | #608 | 96 | 0.0104% |
| 1916 | #576 | 100 | 0.0112% |
| 1915 | #638 | 83 | 0.0098% |
| 1914 | #573 | 77 | 0.0118% |
| 1913 | #607 | 53 | 0.0103% |
| 1912 | #588 | 48 | 0.0112% |
| 1911 | #633 | 24 | 0.0106% |
| 1910 | #693 | 19 | 0.0098% |
| 1909 | #738 | 15 | 0.0091% |
| 1908 | #803 | 12 | 0.0078% |
| 1907 | #843 | 11 | 0.0075% |
| 1906 | #730 | 12 | 0.0090% |
| 1905 | #651 | 14 | 0.0106% |
| 1904 | #631 | 14 | 0.0109% |
| 1903 | #495 | 19 | 0.0159% |
| 1902 | #447 | 22 | 0.0179% |
| 1901 | #752 | 9 | 0.0085% |
| 1900 | #818 | 11 | 0.0073% |
| 1899 | #825 | 8 | 0.0075% |
| 1898 | #620 | 13 | 0.0106% |
| 1897 | #534 | 15 | 0.0133% |
| 1896 | #490 | 18 | 0.0151% |
| 1895 | #768 | 9 | 0.0077% |
| 1894 | #509 | 16 | 0.0138% |
| 1893 | #734 | 9 | 0.0080% |
| 1892 | #588 | 13 | 0.0107% |
| 1891 | #541 | 12 | 0.0119% |
| 1890 | #472 | 16 | 0.0144% |
| 1889 | #567 | 12 | 0.0109% |
| 1888 | #474 | 17 | 0.0141% |
| 1887 | #612 | 10 | 0.0099% |
| 1886 | #411 | 19 | 0.0172% |
| 1885 | #311 | 30 | 0.0278% |
| 1884 | #391 | 21 | 0.0183% |
| 1883 | #441 | 17 | 0.0162% |
| 1882 | #340 | 27 | 0.0237% |
| 1881 | #369 | 21 | 0.0208% |
| 1880 | #415 | 18 | 0.0163% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
