Jonathan
How to say it: JON-uh-thun · /ˈdʒɑnəθən/
God has given — from the Hebrew Yehonatan, a compound of Yahweh and natan (to give).
Jonathan was the 81st most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 3,822 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1980s, its births are down about 50% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #111 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #81 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 3,822 |
| Share of births | 1 in 713 |
| Peak decade | 1980s |
| Change over 10 years | −50% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #111 |
| In France, 2025 | #561 among boys’ names, 65 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Popularity for Jonathan crested in the 1980s. Now far below that height, continued easing downward is expected.
What goes with it
Gentle and soft with breath throughout, Jonathan carries biblical strength. Nathaniel shares its style.
Middle names that flow with Jonathan →
Parents who love Jonathan also love
Nicknames
- Jon
- Johnny
- Nathan
- Jonty
Honouring a Jonathan in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Jonathan is about 1 in 30.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Hebrew, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish.
In France: #561 for boys in 2025.
England and Wales: #297. Ireland: #228.
Famous people named Jonathan
- Jonathan Swift (1667–1745)Anglo-Irish satirist and essayist
- Jonathan Rhys Meyers (born 1977)Irish actor
- Jonathan Tah (born 1996)German footballer
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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