Yonah is a Hebrew name of Biblical origin, meaning "dove" or "pigeon". It is derived from the Hebrew word 'yonah', which refers to these birds known for their peaceful and gentle nature. In the Old Testament, Yonah is notably the prophet whose story is told in the Book of Jonah, where he is commanded by God to prophesy in Nineveh but initially tries to flee this task, leading to his famous encounter with a large fish. The name Yonah has been popular among Jewish communities for centuries and continues to be used today, often chosen for its biblical significance and beautiful meaning.
Over the span of nearly five decades, from 1974 to 2023, the name Yonah experienced significant fluctuations in popularity among parents choosing names for their newborns. The number of annual births with this name ranged from a low of 5 (in several years) to a high of 36 (in 2022). Despite these variations, there was a general upward trend after the mid-1990s, with notable peaks in the late 2010s and early 2020s. Overall, Yonah has been selected for 826 newborns during this period.