"dove"
Origin: Hebrew
Language: Hebrew
Jonah
Pronunciation: [ j-OHN-uh ]
Does Jonah flow with your last name?
A biblical dove name flying across gender lines
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Meaning & Origin
"peace"
Origin: symbolic Hebrew
Language: Hebrew
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Things to Know About This Name
- Associated with biblical bad luck — Jonah in the whale story; calling someone a jonah means they bring bad luck
The Story of Jonah
Jonah is the anglicized form of the Hebrew Yonah, meaning dove — the bird symbolizing peace, love, and the Holy Spirit across Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions. In the Hebrew Bible, Jonah is the reluctant prophet swallowed by a great fish for three days after fleeing God's command. As a girl's name, Jonah follows the modern trend of adopting soft-sounding biblical boy names.
Jonah for girls has been gradually rising since the 2010s, following the broader trend of gender-crossing biblical names like Noah, Micah, and Elijah. Parents are drawn to its soft ending sound — the -ah ending feels feminine — while the name retains its strong biblical character.
The biblical story of Jonah is one of the most universally known — found in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions. In Islam, Jonah (Yunus) is considered a prophet. The dove symbolism also connects Jonah to peace traditions worldwide.
Historical Record
Jonah first appeared in US Social Security records in 1964.
Over 752 babies have been named Jonah in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Jonah is a hidden gem — rare but distinctive , currently ranked #5,257 for girl names in the US .
Fun Facts
- Jonah means dove in Hebrew — the same symbol used for peace and the Holy Spirit
- In English idiom, calling someone a jonah means they bring bad luck, derived from the biblical story
Jonah in Other Languages
Arabic
يونس
French
Jonas
Hebrew
יוֹנָה
Italian
Giona
Spanish
Jonás
Popularity Over Time
#5,257
Current Rank
Rising
Trend
Hidden Gem
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
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Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #5,257
- Total SSA Count
- 25
- Cultural Origins
- Hebrew English American
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Common Nicknames
Jo
Joie
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
Middle Names
Middle Names for Jonah
5 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
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Also a Boy Name
Jonah is also used as a boy name, ranked #126.
View Jonah as a boy name →Similar Names
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Frequently Asked Questions About Jonah
What does the name Jonah mean?
"dove" (from Hebrew). "peace" (from symbolic Hebrew). Jonah is the anglicized form of the Hebrew Yonah, meaning dove — the bird symbolizing peace, love, and the Holy Spirit across Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions. In the Hebrew Bible, Jonah is the reluctant prophet swallowed by a great fish for three days after fleeing God's command. As a girl's name, Jonah follows the modern trend of adopting soft-sounding biblical boy names.
What is the origin of the name Jonah?
Jonah has Hebrew, symbolic Hebrew, English, and American origins. In Hebrew, it means "dove". In symbolic Hebrew, it means "peace".
Is Jonah a boy or girl name?
Jonah is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it is ranked #5257. As a boy name, it is ranked #126. Jonah is more commonly used as a boy name.
How do you pronounce Jonah?
Jonah is pronounced j-OHN-uh.
How popular is the name Jonah?
Jonah is currently ranked #5257 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Jonah?
Common nicknames for Jonah include Joie.
What are good middle names for Jonah?
Popular middle name pairings include Jonah Mae, Jonah Skye, Jonah Leigh, Jonah Rae, and Jonah Blue.
What are good sibling names for Jonah?
Names that pair well with Jonah as siblings include Noah, Micah, Elijah, Naomi, and Eden.
How many syllables does Jonah have?
Jonah has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.
Is Jonah a common or rare name?
Jonah is an uncommon name, ranked #5257 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.
About the Name Jonah
Jonah is a girl name with Hebrew, English, and American origins . The name means "dove" in Hebrew .
Is Jonah a boy or girl name? Jonah is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #5,257 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #126. Jonah is more commonly used as a boy name.
Jonah is currently ranked #5,257 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Jonah has 2 syllables and is pronounced j-OHN-uh, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Jonah include Jo and Joie. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
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Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis