Jonathan is a name of Hebrew origin, meaning "God has given." It is derived from the Hebrew elements Yonah, which means "dove," and Tact, meaning "gift" or "grace." Thus, Jonathan can be interpreted as "given by God" or "gift of God."
The name Jonathan first appears in the Bible, specifically in the Book of Samuel. Jonathan was the son of King Saul and a close friend of David, who later became king. Despite their families' enmity, Jonathan recognized David's worth and saved his life on several occasions.
Jonathan gained prominence as a name in the English-speaking world during the 19th century, particularly after it was used by characters in works by authors such as Sir Walter Scott ("Ivanhoe") and Charlotte Brontë ("Jane Eyre"). Today, Jonathan is still considered a classic and elegant name, with its popularity remaining relatively steady over time.
Variations of the name include Jonah, Jonas, Jonathon, Jon, and Natha. Some famous individuals named Jonathan include American musician Jonathan Davis, British author Jonathan Swift, and Canadian ice hockey player Jonathan Toews. However, regardless of its notable bearers or biblical roots, the name Jonathan stands on its own as a timeless and meaningful moniker with a rich history behind it.
Jonathan has been a popular name in the United States since at least the early 1980s. According to the statistics provided, there were five babies named Jonathan born in 1981, followed by eight in 1982. After a brief decrease in popularity, with only seven Jonathans born in 1986, the name rebounded slightly with six births recorded in 1987.
Over these four years, from 1981 to 1987, a total of twenty-six babies were named Jonathan in the United States. This demonstrates that while the popularity of the name may have fluctuated somewhat during this period, it remained consistently popular throughout.