Jonathan, of Hebrew origin, is a historic and biblical name that means 'gift from God.' It has been popular throughout centuries due to its association with King David's loyal friend and commander in the Old Testament, Jonathan son of Saul. The name gained further popularity after Jonathan Swift, the renowned Irish author of 'Gulliver's Travels,' bore it.
The name Jonathan experienced a notable decrease in popularity between 1981 and 1985, with only half the number of births recorded in those years. However, it saw a resurgence by 1986, reaching its peak in 1990 before declining again in 1999. Over these twenty-eight years, there were a total of thirty-one boys named Jonathan born annually on average.