Jonathan is a name of Hebrew origin, derived from the name Yonathan, which means "gift of God." It is composed of two elements: yona, meaning "dove," and than, meaning "gift."
The name Jonathan is prominent in the Bible, specifically in the Old Testament. The most notable figure with this name is King Saul's son, who was a close friend of David and eventually helped David become king after his father's death.
In recent years, Jonathan has been increasingly popular as a given name for boys. According to the Social Security Administration, it ranked among the top 150 names for newborn boys in the United States between 2009 and 2018. Despite its popularity, Jonathan remains a classic choice that conveys a sense of tradition and strength.
Overall, Jonathan is a name with deep roots in history and culture, making it an appealing choice for parents looking for a timeless yet meaningful name for their sons.
The name Jonathan has seen a varied but notable presence in the United States over several decades, with an overall total of 990 births recorded between 1956 and 2013.
Throughout this period, there were some years where the popularity of the name peaked significantly. For instance, from 1980 to 1987, Jonathan was born to at least 30 babies annually on average, with a peak of 48 births in 1986.
However, the popularity of the name has decreased over time. From the late 1990s onwards, there were fewer than 25 births per year recorded for Jonathan, with only five births each in 2006 and 2009. Despite this decline, Jonathan continues to be born annually in low numbers even today.
This data shows that while Jonathan was once a popular name among parents in the United States during the late twentieth century, its popularity has since waned but continues to persist with occasional births each year.