How popular is the name Jonathan?

In 2025, 153 boys born in England and Wales were named Jonathan, ranking 296th. Its peak was 1996, with 1,881 births.

What are nicknames for Jonathan?

Common nicknames for Jonathan include Jon, Jonny, Jonty.

Is Jonathan a boy's or a girl's name?

Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 874,440 US babies named Jonathan since 1880 were boys.

When was Jonathan most popular?

1988 in the United States, when 24,349 babies were named Jonathan, its highest rank at 15th.

How do you pronounce Jonathan?

Jonathan is /ˈd͡ʒɑnəθən/, 3 syllables.

Is Jonathan also a surname?

Yes. Jonathan is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.

The first name Jonathan

A boy’s name from Hebrew meaning “god has given”.

Pronounced /ˈd͡ʒɑnəθən/ 3 syllables Male Also a surname

Meaning and origin

Hebrew origin

Jonathan means “god has given” in Hebrew.

Borrowed from Hebrew יְהוֹנָתָן (yəhōnāṯān), יוֹנָתָן (yōnāṯān, literally “God has given”), apparently with influence from Aramaic [Term?].

More names that mean gift.

From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Popularity

Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

In 2025, 153 boys were named Jonathan, making it the 296th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 1996, with 1,881 births (#39).

17,404

babies named Jonathan, 1996–2025

#296

rank in 2025

1996

peak year

Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Jonathan with other names.

Popularity in the United States

Babies named Jonathan at birth, 1880–2025

In 2025, 3,822 boys born in the United States were named Jonathan, the 89th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1988, when 24,349 were.

874,440

babies named Jonathan since 1880

#89

rank in 2025

1988

peak year

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.

Jonathan in other languages

Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary

جُونَاثَان

jūnāṯān

Arabic

Յովնաթան

Yovnatʻan

Armenian, also Հովնաթան

喬納森 /乔纳森

Qiáonàsēn

Chinese

Jonatán

Czech

Joonatan

Estonian

Joonatan

Finnish

Τζόναθαν

Tzónathan

Greek, also Ιωαναθάν, Ιωναθάν

יְהוֹנָתָן

yhonatán

Hebrew, also יוֹנָתָן

Gionata

Italian

Iōnāthās

Latin, also Iōnāthān

Jonatan

Polish

Jónatas

Portuguese, also Jônatas, Jonathan

Ionatan

Romanian

Джо́натан

Džónatan

Russian

Ianatan

Scottish Gaelic

Jonatán

Spanish

Jonatan

Swedish

Spelled Jonathan in Danish, French, German and Norwegian too.

Nicknames and spellings

Nicknames for Jonathan

Other spellings and forms

Famous people named Jonathan

452 on Wikidata, most written-about first

Jonathan Swift
Anglo-Irish satirist and essayist (1667–1745)
Jonathan Winters
American comedian, actor, artist (1925–2013)
Jonathan Demme
American filmmaker (1944–2017)
Jonathan Tah
German footballer (born 1996)
Jonathan Banks
American actor, born 1947
Jonathan Franzen
American writer, born 1959
Jonathan Nolan
British-American filmmaker (born 1976)
Jonathan Groff
American actor and singer, born 1985
Jonathan Safran Foer
American novelist (born 1977)
Jonathan Davis
American singer, born 1971
Jonathan David
Canadian soccer player, born 2000
Jonathan Edwards
Christian preacher, philosopher, and theologian (1703-1758)

More Hebrew boys’ names

All 346 names of Hebrew origin

Questions

What does the name Jonathan mean?: Jonathan means “god has given” in Hebrew.
What is the origin of the name Jonathan?: Borrowed from Hebrew יְהוֹנָתָן (yəhōnāṯān), יוֹנָתָן (yōnāṯān, literally “God has given”), apparently with influence from Aramaic [Term?].
How popular is the name Jonathan?: In 2025, 153 boys born in England and Wales were named Jonathan, ranking 296th. Its peak was 1996, with 1,881 births.
What are nicknames for Jonathan?: Common nicknames for Jonathan include Jon, Jonny, Jonty.
Is Jonathan a boy's or a girl's name?: Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 874,440 US babies named Jonathan since 1880 were boys.
When was Jonathan most popular?: 1988 in the United States, when 24,349 babies were named Jonathan, its highest rank at 15th.
How do you pronounce Jonathan?: Jonathan is /ˈd͡ʒɑnəθən/, 3 syllables.
What are other spellings of Jonathan?: Jonathon and Johnathan.
Is Jonathan also a surname?: Yes. Jonathan is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.