The first name Jonah
A boy’s name from Hebrew meaning “dove”.
Pronounced /ˈd͡ʒoʊnə/ 2 syllables Male
Meaning and origin
Hebrew origin
Jonah means “dove” in Hebrew.
From the Hebrew יוֹנָה (yônâh, “dove”). Doublet of Jonas.
More names that mean bird.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 363 boys were named Jonah, making it the 147th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2022, with 428 births (#133).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Jonah with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Jonah at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 2,828 boys born in the United States were named Jonah, the 128th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2008, when 2,981 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Jonah in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
Famous people named Jonah
16 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Jonah HillAmerican actor (born 1983)
- Jonah Hauer-KingBritish actor, born 1995
- Jonah BoboAmerican actor, born 1997
- Jonah FalconAmerican actor and writer, born 1970
- Jonah GoldbergAmerican political writer and pundit, born 1969
- Jonah BoldenAustralian basketball player (born 1996)
- Jonah LehrerAmerican science writer, born 1981
- JonahAmerican archbishop, born 1959
- Jonah BlechmanAmerican actor, born 1975
- Jonah MathewsAmerican basketball player (born 1998)
- Jonah PerettiAmerican businessman (born 1974)
- Jonah WilliamsAmerican football offensive tackle, born 1997
More Hebrew boys’ names
Questions
- What does the name Jonah mean?
- Jonah means “dove” in Hebrew.
- What is the origin of the name Jonah?
- From the Hebrew יוֹנָה (yônâh, “dove”). Doublet of Jonas.
- How popular is the name Jonah?
- In 2025, 363 boys born in England and Wales were named Jonah, ranking 147th. Its peak was 2022, with 428 births.
- Is Jonah a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 99% of the 86,075 US babies named Jonah since 1880 were boys.
- When was Jonah most popular?
- 2008 in the United States, when 2,981 babies were named Jonah, its highest rank at 136th.
- How do you pronounce Jonah?
- Jonah is /ˈd͡ʒoʊnə/, 2 syllables.