Jonathan
JON-uh-thun /ˈdʒɒn.ə.θən/
Meaning of Jonathan
Jonathan comes from the Hebrew יְהוֹנָתָן (Yehonatan): yeho (a form of the Tetragrammaton) + natan ('gave'). The full meaning is 'Yahweh has given.' In the Hebrew Bible, Jonathan is the son of King Saul and the loyal friend of David — their relationship is described in 1 Samuel as a covenant of love, making it a literary touchstone for devoted friendship.
Current popularity of Jonathan
Rankings from the most recent fully-published year in each national registry. Source links at the foot of the page.
| Registry | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| United States (SSA) | 2024 | #68 |
| France (INSEE) | 2024 | #25 |
Notable bearers of Jonathan
Jonathan (Hebrew Bible, friend of David); Jonathan Swift (author of Gulliver's Travels); Jonathan Franzen.
Similar names & variants
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Sibling-name suggestions
Names that pair stylistically with Jonathan — useful as middle names or for siblings.
About this entry
Compiled by the Baby Name Finder editorial team following the rules in our Methodology and Editorial guidelines. If you spot an error, please tell us; our corrections policy is at /editorial-guidelines#corrections.
Sources
Last reviewed: 2026-05-31