Jonathan is a name that has been used for centuries and has roots in Hebrew culture. It is derived from the Hebrew name Yehonatan, which means "gift of God." In the Bible, Jonathan was the son of King Saul and a close friend of David. The name has been popularized in modern times through various cultural references, including the character Jonathan Kent in Superman and the protagonist in the novel Jonathan Livingston Seagull.
Jonathan rank report (US ranking for newborns 2021)
- Rank 74. Colton
- Rank 75. Roman
- Rank 76. Axel
- Rank 77. Brooks
- Rank 78. Jonathan
- Rank 79. Robert
- Rank 80. Jameson
- Rank 81. Ian
- Rank 82. Everett
Nicknames for Jonathan
| Jon | jahn | A common and simple shortened version of the name. |
| Johnny | jahn-ee | A more informal and affectionate nickname for the name. |
| Nathan | nay-thun | A common alternative nickname that is derived from the name. |
| Jono | joh-noh | A more unique and informal nickname for the name. |
| Jonty | jahn-tee | A British nickname that is often used as a term of endearment. |
| Jona | joh-nuh | A less common shortened version of the name. |
| Jonny | jahn-ee | A more informal and affectionate version of the nickname Jon. |
Famous people named Jonathan
| Jonathan Swift | Writing and Satire | Famous Irish author of Gulliver's Travels |
| Jonathan Franzen | Writing | American novelist and essayist |
| Jonathan Edwards | Religious leader | American preacher and theologian |
| Jonathan Taylor Thomas | Acting | Former child actor, known for his role in Home Improvement |
| Jonathan Rhys Meyers | Acting | Irish actor, known for his roles in The Tudors and Match Point |
| Jonathan Groff | Acting and Singing | American actor and singer, known for his roles in Hamilton and Frozen |
| Jonathan Banks | Acting | American actor, known for his roles in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul |
| Jonathan Toews | Ice Hockey | Canadian ice hockey player, captain of the Chicago Blackhawks |
| Jonathan Brandis | Acting | Former child actor, known for his roles in SeaQuest DSV and It |
| Jonathan Demme | Directing | American film director, known for directing The Silence of the Lambs |
| Jonathan Swift | Writing | Irish satirist, essayist, political pamphleteer, poet and cleric who is best remembered for his works such as Gulliver's Travels, A Modest Proposal, and A Tale of a Tub. |
| Jonathan Franzen | Writing | American novelist and essayist, known for his novels such as The Corrections, Freedom, and Purity. |
| Jonathan Ive | Designing | British industrial designer who is best known for his work at Apple Inc., where he was the chief design officer and played a key role in the design of products such as the iPhone, iPod, and MacBook. |
| Jonathan Rhys Meyers | Acting | Irish actor, known for his roles in films such as Velvet Goldmine, Bend It Like Beckham, and Match Point, as well as his portrayal of King Henry VIII in the TV series The Tudors. |
| Jonathan Groff | Acting | American actor and singer, known for his roles in the Broadway musicals Spring Awakening and Hamilton, as well as his work in TV shows such as Glee and Mindhunter. |
| Jonathan Toews | Sports | Canadian ice hockey player, who is the captain of the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL), and has won multiple awards and championships throughout his career. |
| Jonathan Banks | Acting | American actor, known for his roles in TV shows such as Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, and Community, as well as films such as Airplane!, 48 Hrs., and Beverly Hills Cop. |
| Jonathan Edwards | Religion | American preacher and theologian, who played a key role in the Great Awakening religious revival in the 18th century, and is known for his sermons such as Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. |
| Jonathan Demme | Directing | American film director, known for his work on films such as The Silence of the Lambs, Philadelphia, and Rachel Getting Married, and won multiple awards including an Academy Award for Best Director. |
| Jonathan Lipnicki | Acting | American actor, known for his roles in films such as Jerry Maguire, Stuart Little, and Like Mike. |
Fictional character called Jonathan from pop culture
| Jonathan Kent | Superman's adoptive father | Raised Superman as his own son on the Kent farm in Smallville |
| Jonathan Joestar | Protagonist of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure Part 1 | Fights against the vampire Dio Brando to protect his family's honor |
| Jonathan Byers | Character in Stranger Things | Brother of Will Byers and love interest of Nancy Wheeler |
| Jonathan Crane | Batman villain also known as the Scarecrow | Uses fear as a weapon to commit crimes |
| Jonathan Harker | Protagonist in Bram Stoker's Dracula | Travels to Transylvania to help a rich nobleman buy an estate in England |
| Jonathan Morgenstern | Antagonist in The Mortal Instruments series | Son of Valentine Morgenstern and brother of Clary Fray |
| Jonathan Sims | Protagonist of The Magnus Archives podcast | Head archivist at the Magnus Institute, investigates paranormal events |
| Jonathan Pine | Protagonist of the novel and TV series The Night Manager | Former British soldier turned hotel night manager who becomes embroiled in a plot to bring down an arms dealer |
| Jonathan Kent | Being the adoptive father of Superman | Jonathan Kent is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. He is the adoptive father of the superhero Superman, who he raised with his wife Martha Kent in Smallville, Kansas. |
| Jonathan Crane | Being a Batman villain known as Scarecrow | Jonathan Crane, also known as Scarecrow, is a fictional supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. He is a criminal mastermind who uses a fear toxin to manipulate his victims' emotions and actions. |
| Jonathan "Johnny" Lawrence | Being a character in the Karate Kid franchise | Jonathan Lawrence, also known as Johnny Lawrence, is a fictional character in the Karate Kid franchise. He is the main antagonist in the first film and a recurring character in the subsequent films and the television series Cobra Kai. |
Frequently Asked Questions about Jonathan
| What is the origin of the name Jonathan? | The name Jonathan is of Hebrew origin, meaning 'gift of God'. |
| Is Jonathan a popular name? | Yes, Jonathan has been a popular name in the United States since the 1970s. It was in the top 100 names for boys from 1974 to 2015. |
| What are some famous people named Jonathan? | Some famous people named Jonathan include actor Jonathan Groff, singer-songwriter Jonathan Richman, and former U.S. President Jonathan Edwards. |
| What are some common nicknames for Jonathan? | Common nicknames for Jonathan include Jon, Johnny, and Jono. |
| Is Jonathan a unisex name? | No, Jonathan is typically a masculine name. |
| What is the origin of the name Jonathan? | The name Jonathan is of Hebrew origin, meaning 'gift of God'. |
| Is Jonathan a popular name? | Yes, Jonathan has been a popular name in the United States since the 1970s. It was ranked as the 48th most popular name for boys in 2020. |
| What are some famous people named Jonathan? | Some famous people named Jonathan include Jonathan Swift, author of 'Gulliver's Travels', Jonathan Franzen, author of 'The Corrections', and Jonathan Van Ness, hair stylist and TV personality on 'Queer Eye'. |
| What are some common nicknames for Jonathan? | Common nicknames for Jonathan include Jon, Johnny, and Jono. |
| Is Jonathan a unisex name? | No, Jonathan is traditionally a masculine name. |
| What is the meaning of the name Jonathan in different languages? | In Spanish, the name Jonathan is also 'gift of God'. In French, it is 'Jehovah has given'. In German, it is 'God has given'. |
| What is the biblical reference for the name Jonathan? | In the Bible, Jonathan was the son of King Saul and a close friend of King David. |