"peace"
Origin: Hebrew
Language: Hebrew
Jona
Does Jona flow with your last name?
A minimalist Biblical name meaning peace and dove
Hebrew
English
European
American
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Things to Know About This Name
- May be associated with the biblical story of being swallowed by a whale, occasionally used in nautical superstition contexts
The Story of Jona
Jona is a streamlined form of Jonah, a Hebrew name meaning dove. In the Hebrew Bible, Jonah is the prophet who was swallowed by a great fish and later preached in Nineveh. The simplified spelling Jona is common in German, Dutch, and Scandinavian countries, and is gaining popularity in English-speaking countries as a minimalist alternative to Jonah.
The name Jonah and its variant Jona have seen a resurgence in the 2000s and 2010s as Biblical names returned to favor. Jonah Hill, the American actor, raised the names cultural profile in the 2010s.
Jonah is venerated in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam — he is a prophet in all three Abrahamic faiths. In maritime folklore, a Jonah refers to someone who brings bad luck on a ship, derived from the biblical story. The variant Jona is especially popular in German-speaking countries.
Historical Record
Jona first appeared in US Social Security records in 1971.
Over 496 babies have been named Jona in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Jona is a hidden gem — rare but distinctive , currently ranked #4,091 for boy names in the US .
Fun Facts
- Jonah is one of the few Old Testament prophets mentioned by name in the New Testament
- The Book of Jonah is notable for its message of repentance and mercy toward enemies
- In German, Jona is used for both boys and girls
Jona in Other Languages
Dutch
Jona
French
Jonas
German
Jona
Hebrew
יוֹנָה
Italian
Giona
Spanish
Jonás
Popularity Over Time
#4,091
Current Rank
Stable
Trend
Hidden Gem
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Jona
J
Jonah Hill
Actor
1983
American actor and filmmaker known for Superbad, Moneyball, and The Wolf of Wall Street
J
Jonah (biblical prophet)
Religious
Hebrew prophet whose story of being swallowed by a great fish is told in the Book of Jonah
J
Jonas Kahnwald Fictional
Other
Main protagonist of the German Netflix series Dark, a time-travel thriller
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Compare Jona with:
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Boy
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #4,091
- Total SSA Count
- 26
- Cultural Origins
- Hebrew English European American
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Jo
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, 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
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Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
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Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
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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, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
Middle Names
Middle Names for Jona
7 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
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Also a Girl Name
Jona is also used as a girl name, ranked #12209.
View Jona as a girl name →Similar Names
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Same Origin Names (Hebrew)
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Frequently Asked Questions About Jona
What does the name Jona mean?
"peace" (from Hebrew). Jona is a streamlined form of Jonah, a Hebrew name meaning dove. In the Hebrew Bible, Jonah is the prophet who was swallowed by a great fish and later preached in Nineveh. The simplified spelling Jona is common in German, Dutch, and Scandinavian countries, and is gaining popularity in English-speaking countries as a minimalist alternative to Jonah.
What is the origin of the name Jona?
Jona has Hebrew, English, European, and American origins. In Hebrew, it means "peace".
Is Jona a boy or girl name?
Jona is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it is ranked #4091. As a girl name, it is ranked #12209. Jona is more commonly used as a boy name.
How popular is the name Jona?
Jona is currently ranked #4091 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
What are good middle names for Jona?
Popular middle name pairings include Jona Michael, Jona David, Jona James, Jona Thomas, Jona Paul, Jona Luke, and Jona Samuel.
What are good sibling names for Jona?
Names that pair well with Jona as siblings include Elijah, Noah, Ezra, Naomi, Ruth, Hannah, and Caleb.
How many syllables does Jona have?
Jona has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.
Is Jona a common or rare name?
Jona is an uncommon name, ranked #4091 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.
What boy names are similar to Jona?
About the Name Jona
Jona is a boy name with Hebrew, English, European, and American origins . The name means "peace" in Hebrew .
Is Jona a boy or girl name? Jona is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it ranks #4,091 in popularity. As a girl name, it ranks #12,209. Jona is more commonly used as a boy name.
Jona is currently ranked #4,091 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
The name Jona has 2 syllables, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Jona include Jo. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Jona include Jonathan, Jonah, Jonas, Jones, Jon . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
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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