Jonathan
Boy name · Hebrew · Scandinavian
MeaningGod has given · Hebrew
- US rank
- #89
- Syllables
- 3
- Peak
- #15 in 1988
3,822 babies were named Jonathan in the US in 2025. It has dropped 19 places in five years.
Found on lists
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million boys, 1880–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Jonathan you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Jonathan
Jonathan Swift
Anglo-Irish satirist and essayist (1667–1745)
Choose Jonathan and your child shares a first name with Jonathan Swift, an Anglo-Irish satirist and essayist. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Jonathan, like who?” Jonathan Swift's Wikipedia article is available in 162 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Jonathan Swift on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: Charles Jervas, Public domain (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 447 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Jonathan, 3,822 babies in all. In a school of 500 kids, there'd probably be one other Jonathan.
- HistoryJonathan has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Jonathans, and counting.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1988, when it ranked #15. Today it's #89, so it could be due a comeback.
- Then vs nowJonathan was 3.8× more common in 2000 than it is today. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 116 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 447.
- Where it's lovedJonathan is most popular in Alabama, where it ranks #63, followed by Alaska (#65) and California (#65). It makes the top 1,000 in almost every state.
- MeaningIn Hebrew, Jonathan means “God has given”. Our records link it to Hebrew and Scandinavian roots.
- OriginJonathan is the most popular Scandinavian boy name in the US. That's out of 259 Scandinavian boy and unisex names in our list.
About the name Jonathan
Jonathan is a boy name of Hebrew and Scandinavian origin meaning “God has given”. It has 8 letters and 3 syllables, starting with J and ending in “-han”. US birth records list Jonathan for boys from 1880 to 2025, in 146 of those 146 years. Its best year was 1988, when it ranked #15 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #89, with 3,822 babies.
Origin:Hebrew namesScandinavian names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 175 | 5,706 boys |
| 1890s | 113 | 8,857 boys |
| 1900s | 105 | 9,562 boys |
| 1910s | 101 | 9,892 boys |
| 1920s | 98 | 10,219 boys |
| 1930s | 156 | 6,391 boys |
| 1940s | 533 | 1,877 boys |
| 1950s | 1,265 | 791 boys |
| 1960s | 2,507 | 399 boys |
| 1970s | 6,571 | 152 boys |
| 1980s | 12,459 | 80 boys |
| 1990s | 10,117 | 99 boys |
| 2000s | 7,268 | 138 boys |
| 2010s | 4,234 | 236 boys |
| 2020s | 2,449 | 408 boys |
More Hebrew boy names
- Unisex name: Noah · rest, comfort
- Unisex name: James · supplanter
- Boy name: Elijah · my God is Yahweh
- Boy name: Mateo · gift of God
- Boy name: Benjamin · son of the right hand
- Boy name: Levi · joined, attached
- Unisex name: Elias · my God is Yahweh
- Boy name: Jack · God is gracious
Questions about the name Jonathan
What does the name Jonathan mean?
Jonathan means “God has given” in Hebrew.
What is the origin of the name Jonathan?
Jonathan has Hebrew, Scandinavian roots in our records. Other Hebrew names include Noah, James, Elijah.
Is Jonathan a boy or girl name?
Jonathan is a boy name, though a few girls get it too.
How popular is the name Jonathan?
Jonathan ranked #89 for US boys in 2025, given to 3,822 babies. Its best year was 1988 (#15).