Jonathan is a name of Hebrew origin, meaning "gift from God". It is composed of two elements: the verb "yahweh", which means "to give", and the noun "hanah", meaning "grace" or "favor".
The name Jonathan appears in the Old Testament of the Bible, where it belongs to the son of King Saul and the best friend of David. This story has contributed to the popularity of the name Jonathan throughout history.
The name Jonathan was first used as a given name in England during the late Middle Ages, when it was introduced by returning Crusaders who had encountered it in the Holy Land. The name gained further popularity in the 16th century due to its use among Puritans and Pilgrims, many of whom named their sons Jonathan because they believed that the name represented God's grace.
In literature, Jonathan has been used as a character name in several notable works, including "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" by Richard Bach and "Bleak House" by Charles Dickens. This has helped to further popularize the name throughout history.
Today, Jonathan remains a popular given name for boys around the world. According to data from the Social Security Administration, it was the 21st most common boy's name in the United States in 2019.
The name Jonathan has been a popular choice for parents in the United States over the years, with a total of 311 babies given this name between 1962 and 1996.
In the early years, the number of births was relatively low, with only 7 babies named Jonathan in 1962. However, by 1981, the popularity of the name had increased significantly, with 20 babies given this name that year. This trend continued throughout the 1980s, with a peak of 33 births in 1986.
Interestingly, the number of Jonathan births seemed to fluctuate over time, with periods of high and low popularity. For example, there was a noticeable dip in the late 1980s and early 1990s, with only 6 births recorded in 1990 and 5 births in both 1995 and 1996.
Despite these fluctuations, Jonathan has remained a consistently popular name for boys over the past four decades. It's clear that many parents have chosen this name for their children, perhaps drawn to its classic sound and timeless appeal.