Meaning
The meaning of Jonah
Jonah means dove. The gentle meaning contrasts with a prophetic story full of flight, storm, rescue, anger, repentance, and divine compassion.
Name story
The reluctant prophet
Jonah's story is memorable because he does not eagerly obey. He runs from the call, is swallowed by a great fish, and eventually preaches to Nineveh.
The name therefore carries honesty about human reluctance as well as the wideness of God's mercy.
Christian reading
A sign and a mercy story
Jesus refers to the sign of Jonah, which gives the story special Christian resonance.
For families, Jonah can feel gentle, biblical, and approachable while still carrying a strong story about repentance and grace.
Sound
How to pronounce Jonah
- Phonetic
- JOH-nuh
- IPA
- /ˈdʒoʊnə/
2 syllables · stress: JOH-nuh · ends in a vowel
Forms
Variants and nicknames
Alternate spellings
- Jonas
- Yonah
- Yunus
- Jonasz
Short forms and nicknames
- Jo
- Joni
Languages
Jonah in other languages
- Hebrew
- יוֹנָהYonah
- Greek
- ἸωνᾶςIōnas
- Latin
- Ionas
- Spanish
- Jonás
- French
- Jonas
- German
- Jonas
- Italian
- Giona
- Russian
- ИонаIona
- Arabic
- يُونُسYunus
Christian background
Christian and biblical background
Jonah matters in Christian reading because Jesus refers to Jonah and because the book highlights God's mercy toward people beyond Israel. For more on prophet names in the Bible and the prophetic tradition, see Biblical prophet names.
Scripture
The biblical figure
Jonah is a prophet sent to Nineveh who flees, is rescued from the sea, preaches, and wrestles with God's compassion.
Bearers
Notable people named Jonah
biblical
JonahHebrew prophet sent to Nineveh whose story includes flight, a great fish, repentance, and God's mercy on the foreign cityhistorical
Jonah LomuNew Zealand rugby union player widely regarded as the first global rugby star, 1975 to 2015modern
Jonah HillAmerican actor and filmmaker, born 1983modern
Jonah GoldbergAmerican political commentator and writer, born 1969
Naming history
Naming tradition and history
Jonah has become a familiar biblical name in modern use. Jonas is a related form with long Christian history.
Recent US use
Jonah in recent US use
- Rank in 2025
- #128
- Peak rank
- #124 in 2023
- Recent trend
- stable over the last 5 years
- Years in the SSA records
- 143 (since 1880)
Source: US Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880-2025.
Sibling fit
Sibling name suggestions
Phonetic neighbours
Names that sound similar to Jonah
For families
For families looking at Jonah
Jonah may suit parents who want a soft but substantial biblical boy name. It carries mercy, repentance, and a story children often learn early.
Common questions
What does Jonah mean?
Jonah means dove.
Is Jonah a biblical name?
Yes. Jonah is an Old Testament prophet.
Why is Jonah important to Christians?
Jesus refers to the sign of Jonah, and the book teaches repentance and divine mercy.
Sources
Sources for Jonah
- A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament, Brown, Driver, and BriggsSupports: Hebrew etymology; meaning 'dove'.
- The Book of Jonah, King James Version (KJV 1769)Supports: biblical prophet; reluctant prophet sent to Nineveh.
Last reviewed July 19, 2026. See our methodology, or report an error on the corrections page.
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