Jonathan is a name of Hebrew origin that comes from the words "yonah" meaning "dove" and "shu'a" meaning "rescue". Therefore, Jonathan means "God has heard" or "God gives".
The name Jonathan appears in the Bible as the son of Saul, the first king of Israel. He was a close friend and supporter of David, who later became King of Israel. The story of their friendship is told in the Books of Samuel.
Historically, the name Jonathan has been popular among various cultures throughout Europe and North America. It gained significant popularity during the 19th century and continues to be widely used today. Some notable people named Jonathan include Jonathan Swift, an Irish writer best known for his satirical novel "Gulliver's Travels"; Jonathan Edwards, a prominent American theologian; and Jonathan Franzen, an American novelist.
Overall, Jonathan is a name with a strong biblical heritage that carries a meaningful message about divine favor. Its popularity and historical significance have made it a widely recognized and well-liked choice for parents around the world.
Based on the provided statistics, we can observe several trends regarding the name Jonathan in the United States:
* The popularity of the name Jonathan began to rise significantly in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Before this period, the number of births with the name Jonathan was relatively low and fluctuating.
* In 1942, there were only 553 births with the name Jonathan, but by 1952, that number had increased to 2063, marking a significant growth in popularity.
* The peak popularity for the name Jonathan occurred between the late 1960s and early 1970s. During this time, over 8,000 births per year were recorded with the name Jonathan:
+ In 1968, there were 5806 births.
+ In 1969, that number grew to 8194.
+ The peak was reached in 1970 with 8629 births.
* After the early 1970s, the popularity of the name Jonathan began to decline. This downward trend continued through the late 1980s and into the 1990s:
+ In 1980, there were 18992 births with the name Jonathan.
+ By 1990, that number had decreased to 24079.
+ In 1991, it further dropped to 22974.
* Since the early 1990s, the popularity of the name Jonathan has continued to decline steadily. As of 2023, there were only 4066 births with the name Jonathan in the United States.
In conclusion, the name Jonathan has experienced significant fluctuations in popularity throughout its history in the United States. It rose to prominence during World War II and reached its peak popularity in the early 1970s. However, since then, its popularity has steadily declined, reaching its lowest point in recent years.