Jonathan is a male given name of Hebrew origin, meaning "gift from God". It is derived from the Hebrew elements "yonah" which means "dove", and "tan" which means "gift".
The name Jonathan has a rich history in the Bible. In the Old Testament, Jonathan was the son of King Saul and the friend of David, who became king after Saul's death. This story emphasizes the qualities of loyalty and friendship, as Jonathan risked his life to save David from his father's wrath.
In the New Testament, there is another Jonathan, a member of the Sanhedrin who was one of the first converts to Christianity. He is often referred to as "the cousin of Paul", although their exact relationship is unclear.
The name Jonathan has been used throughout history by many notable figures. For example, Jonathan Swift was an Irish satirist and poet best known for his novel Gulliver's Travels. Jonathan Edwards was a colonial American Congregational preacher and theologian who is considered one of the most important religious leaders in American history.
Today, Jonathan remains a popular name around the world. According to data from the Social Security Administration, it has been among the top 1000 names for boys in the United States every year since the 1950s. It is also commonly used in countries such as England, Canada, and Australia.
In summary, Jonathan is a name of Hebrew origin with a meaning of "gift from God". Its history spans both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, and it has been borne by many notable figures throughout history. Today, it remains a popular choice for boys' names around the world.
Jonathan has been a popular boy's name in the United States since the mid-20th century, with a notable increase in popularity during the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Between 1955 and 1972, there were fewer than 30 births each year for boys named Jonathan. However, starting in 1973, the number of annual births for boys with this name began to rise significantly. In fact, between 1973 and 1986, there was an average increase of approximately 25% per year in the number of babies named Jonathan.
The peak popularity of the name Jonathan occurred between 1980 and 1983, with a total of 374 births recorded during these four years alone. This represents nearly one-third of all recorded births for boys named Jonathan in the United States since 1955!
However, after reaching its peak popularity in the early 1980s, the name Jonathan began to decline in usage. Between 1987 and 2012, there was an average decrease of approximately 13% per year in the number of babies named Jonathan.
Despite this decline, Jonathan remains a classic and timeless boy's name that has been favored by parents for generations. As of 2012, there have been a total of 1936 boys named Jonathan born in the United States since 1955.