Jonah Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Jonah is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Jonah?
Jonah is spelled J-O-N-A-H. The name has 5 letters.
Jonah at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Jonah means “dove” in Hebrew.
- Origin
- Jonah is commonly associated with Hebrew origins, derived from the Hebrew name Yonah.
- Pronunciation
- JOH-nah · 2 syllables
Jonah Popularity in 2025
Rank#3,780
Recorded Births39
Rank#128
Recorded Births2,828
- Girls usage rose 1,368 places to #3,780 and recorded 14 more births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage fell 2 places to #128 and recorded 65 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Jonah Mean?
Jonah means “dove” in Hebrew.
Origin: Jonah is commonly associated with Hebrew origins, derived from the Hebrew name Yonah.
How Do You Pronounce Jonah?
PronunciationJOH-nah
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Jonah?
- History
- The name Jonah appears in biblical texts, notably as the name of a prophet in the Hebrew Bible who was swallowed by a large fish or whale.
Jonah Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2014 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 39 | #3,780 |
| 2025 | Boys | 2,828 | #128 |
| 2024 | Girls | 25 | #5,148 |
| 2024 | Boys | 2,893 | #126 |
| 2023 | Girls | 33 | #4,276 |
| 2023 | Boys | 2,900 | #124 |
| 2022 | Girls | 18 | #6,464 |
| 2022 | Boys | 2,754 | #135 |
| 2021 | Girls | 28 | #4,719 |
| 2021 | Boys | 2,739 | #138 |
| 2020 | Girls | 22 | #5,487 |
| 2020 | Boys | 2,821 | #128 |
| 2019 | Girls | 21 | #5,798 |
| 2019 | Boys | 2,693 | #139 |
| 2018 | Girls | 36 | #4,001 |
| 2018 | Boys | 2,725 | #145 |
| 2017 | Girls | 23 | #5,517 |
| 2017 | Boys | 2,524 | #154 |
| 2016 | Girls | 26 | #5,130 |
| 2016 | Boys | 2,778 | #150 |
| 2015 | Girls | 24 | #5,458 |
| 2015 | Boys | 2,913 | #143 |
| 2014 | Girls | 26 | #5,163 |
| 2014 | Boys | 2,920 | #138 |
When Was Jonah Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2008 · Boys
2,981 recorded births
National rank #136
2012 · Boys
2,955 recorded births
National rank #128
2014 · Boys
2,920 recorded births
National rank #138
2015 · Boys
2,913 recorded births
National rank #143
Where Jonah Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| DC | #66 | 12 |
| ME | #74 | 16 |
| KY | #91 | 55 |
| OH | #93 | 133 |
| WI | #96 | 62 |
| KS | #98 | 37 |
| CT | #100 | 36 |
| NY | #102 | 171 |