The first name Jonas
A boy’s name from Hebrew meaning “dove”.
2 syllables Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Hebrew origin
Jonas means “dove” in Hebrew.
From Latin Iōnās, from Koine Greek Ἰωνᾶς (Iōnâs), from Biblical Hebrew יוֹנָה (yônâh, “dove”). Doublet of Jonah.
More names that mean bird.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 49 boys were named Jonas, making it the 716th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2018, with 100 births (#422).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Jonas with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Jonas at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 476 boys born in the United States were named Jonas, the 599th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2008, when 1,256 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.
Famous people named Jonas
88 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Jonas Malheiro SavimbiAngolan political and military leader (1934-2002)
- Jonás GutiérrezArgentine footballer, born 1983
- Jonas HectorGerman association football player, born 1990
- Jonas VingegaardDanish cyclist (born 1996)
- Jonas HofmannGerman association football player (born 1992)
- Jonas WindDanish association football player, born 1999
- JonasBrazilian footballer, born 1984
- Jonas LösslDanish association football player, born 1989
- Jonas KnudsenDanish association football player (born 1992)
- Jonas Eduardo AméricoBrazilian footballer (born 1949)
- Jonas UrbigGerman footballer (born 2003)
- Jonas BloquetBelgian actor and director, born 1992
More Hebrew boys’ names
Questions
- What does the name Jonas mean?
- Jonas means “dove” in Hebrew.
- What is the origin of the name Jonas?
- From Latin Iōnās, from Koine Greek Ἰωνᾶς (Iōnâs), from Biblical Hebrew יוֹנָה (yônâh, “dove”). Doublet of Jonah.
- How popular is the name Jonas?
- In 2025, 49 boys born in England and Wales were named Jonas, ranking 716th. Its peak was 2018, with 100 births.
- Is Jonas a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 28,588 US babies named Jonas since 1880 were boys.
- When was Jonas most popular?
- 2008 in the United States, when 1,256 babies were named Jonas, its highest rank at 274th.
- Is Jonas also a surname?
- Yes. Jonas is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.