Jonas Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Jonas has its roots in Hebrew, meaning 'dove'. It evolved through various languages, starting from Yonah in Hebrew to its current form in English. The name is linked to the biblical figure Jonah, who represents themes of redemption and divine mercy. In modern times, Jonas is seen as a stylish and versatile name, with notable individuals carrying it in various fields.
The name Jonas is most popular in Utah, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Alpha generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is declining in usage, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Jonas has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, falling for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Jonas' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 667th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 851st out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 936th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 642nd out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 662nd out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 423rd out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 471st out of 23106 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 17532nd out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 20558th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 35406th out of 35406 names. Discover how the name 'Jonas' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Jonas"
Pronunciation
/ˈdʒoʊnəs/
Origin
Hebrew
Etymology
The name Jonas is derived from the Hebrew name Yonah, meaning 'dove'. In the context of biblical literature, it is associated with the prophet Jonah, who was sent by God to deliver a message to the city of Nineveh.
Meaning
dove
Language Evolution
Yonah (Hebrew), Iona (Greek), Jonas (Latin), Jonas (Old French), Jonas (English)
Biblical Background
The name Jonas is associated with the biblical figure Jonah, who is well-known for the story of being swallowed by a great fish.
Historical Usage
The name Jonas gained popularity in the Christian tradition due to its biblical connections, particularly during the Middle Ages in Europe.
Variants & Derivatives
Jonah, John, Yona, Joni
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Jonas is perceived as a classic yet contemporary name, often associated with creativity and intelligence.
Famous People
Jonas Salk (American medical researcher), Jonas Brothers (American pop band), Jonas Kaufmann (German tenor)
Explore More Jonas Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Jonas"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Jonas"
"Jonas" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 667th of 7545 | 1,446 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 851st of 6773 | 1,020 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 936th of 7552 | 1,203 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 642nd of 10718 | 2,639 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 662nd of 16616 | 3,532 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 423rd of 24088 | 10,201 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 471st of 23106 | 7,538 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 17532nd of 19264 | 7 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 20558th of 27321 | 16 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 35406th of 35406 | 5 |
Regional Popularity of "Jonas" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
52.33% 741st/1416 |
34.59% 477th/1379 |
31.32% 741st/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
44.63% 690th/1546 |
37.92% 590th/1556 |
49.17% 1157th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
30.58% 681st/2227 |
30.16% 733rd/2430 |
48.48% 1383rd/2853 |
52.76% 1464th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
20.02% 588th/2937 |
15.70% 547th/3483 |
19.90% 700th/3518 |
16.07% 650th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
15.22% 561st/3685 |
13.41% 600th/4475 |
13.71% 712th/5194 |
11.97% 756th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
8.45% 387th/4582 |
7.63% 394th/5164 |
6.51% 476th/7313 |
5.79% 432nd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
11.40% 454th/3984 |
8.18% 367th/4487 |
7.86% 536th/6822 |
8.17% 513th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Jonas" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Jonas"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Jonas" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.