Jonathan
Meaning of Jonathan
Jonathan is a time-tested charmer that springs from the Hebrew Yonatan, “gift of God,” and it’s easy to see why parents keep unwrapping this present generation after generation. In the Old Testament, Jonathan was the loyal prince who stood by David’s side—think of him as the original best-friend-forever—so the name carries a built-in aura of courage, kindness, and steady companionship. English speakers pronounce it JAHN-uh-thun, a soft tumble of syllables that feels both friendly and refined, like corduroy with cufflinks. Stateside, Jonathan rocketed up the charts in the 1980s (peaking in the Top 20) and, although he’s been gliding to a comfortable 80-something perch today, he still greets over 4,000 newborns a year—proof that classic style never clocks out. From literary greats like Jonathan Swift to modern actors, athletes, and singer-songwriters, the name has a knack for popping up where talent thrives. For parents seeking a name that balances tradition, warmth, and a dash of heroic sparkle, Jonathan might be the perfect gift to unwrap.
Pronunciation
American English
- Pronunced as JAHN-uh-thun (/ˈdʒɑnəθən/)
British English
- Pronunced as JAHN-uh-thun (/ˈdʒɒnəθən/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
States Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Jonathan
| Jonathan Drew Groff is an American actor and singer acclaimed on stage and screen, a Tony and Grammy winner and Primetime Emmy nominee. |
| Jonathan Swift was an Anglo Irish writer and Anglican cleric whose deadpan satire in Gullivers Travels and A Modest Proposal made him one of the greatest satirists in English literature. |
| Jonathan Hickman is an American comic book writer and artist known for creator owned titles The Nightly News, The Manhattan Projects, and East of West, and for major Marvel arcs on Fantastic Four, Avengers, Infinity, and Secret Wars. |
| Jonathan Wild was a London thief taker who posed as a civic hero while secretly running a criminal empire and using his role to crush rivals. |
| Jonathan Stuart Bailey is an English actor celebrated for dramatic, comedic, and musical roles on stage and screen, winner of a Laurence Olivier Award and a Critics Choice Television Award, and a Primetime Emmy nominee. |
| Jonathan Spector is a former American soccer defender who played over 400 games in a 16 year career, earned 36 caps, helped the United States win the 2007 Gold Cup, and now serves as Head of Scouting for Atlanta United. |
| English coach and former player Jonathan Greening manages Scarborough Athletic in the National League North. |
| Jonathan David Larson was an American composer, lyricist, and playwright best known for Rent and Tick Tick Boom, musicals that explored multiculturalism, addiction, and homophobia. |
| Jonathan Maberry is an American suspense and horror author and editor, also a comics writer and teacher, named by Horror Novel Reviews as one of the top contemporary horror writers. |
| American actor Jonathan Banks is known for Wiseguy and his Emmy-nominated role as Mike Ehrmantraut in Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, and El Camino. |
| Jonathan Soriano Casas is a retired Spanish striker. |
| Jonathan Safran Foer is an American novelist and nonfiction writer best known for Everything Is Illuminated, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, and Eating Animals, and he teaches creative writing at New York University. |
| Jonathan Jeremy Lewis is an American soccer winger who most recently played for Barnsley in EFL League One. |
| Jonathan David Karl is an American political journalist and author who has reported from over 30 countries, covering US politics, foreign policy, and the military across the White House, Congress, the Pentagon, and the State Department. |
| Jonathan Joseph India is an American Major League Baseball infielder and outfielder for the Kansas City Royals who previously played for the Cincinnati Reds. |
