Yunus

Boy Name #1,463 Most Popular Hidden Gem 2 Syllables

The prophet's name, beloved across the Muslim world

Turkish Arabic Muslim Bengali Urdu-speaking Indonesian

Spiritual Traditional Strong Classic

Meaning & Origin

"dove"

Origin: Hebrew

Language: Arabic

"the prophet Jonah"

Origin: Arabic

Language: English

The Story of Yunus

Yunus is the Arabic and Turkish form of Jonah, derived from the Hebrew 'Yonah,' meaning dove. In Islamic tradition, Yunus ibn Matta is revered as one of the 25 prophets mentioned in the Quran. He is known as 'Dhu al-Nun' (the One of the Whale) for his famous story of being swallowed by a large fish and emerging after repentance — a story of redemption central to Islamic faith.

Yunus remains consistently popular across the Muslim world, especially in Turkey, Bangladesh, and Arab countries. The name gained extraordinary international recognition through Muhammad Yunus, the Bangladeshi social entrepreneur and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, who brought the name to global attention in 2006.

Yunus holds deep religious significance in Islam as one of the 25 prophets mentioned in the Quran. Surah Yunus (Chapter 10) is one of the Quran's major chapters, making this name spiritually significant for Muslim families worldwide. In Turkey, Yunus Emre (1240-1320) is revered as the father of Turkish poetry.

Fun Facts

Surah Yunus is the 10th chapter of the Quran, named after this prophet
Muhammad Yunus founded Grameen Bank and won the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize for pioneering microcredit
Yunus Emre, the 13th-century Sufi poet, is so revered in Turkey that his face appeared on the 200 lira note

Yunus in Other Languages

Urdu یونس

Arabic يونس

Hebrew יוֹנָה (Yonah)

Persian یونس

Turkish Yunus

Famous People Named Yunus

Muhammad Yunus

Humanitarian

1940

Bangladeshi social entrepreneur, banker, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate who pioneered the concept of microcredit and mic...

Bangladeshi social entrepreneur, banker, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate who pioneered the concept of microcredit and microfinance

Yunus Emre

Writer

1240

Beloved 13th-century Sufi poet and mystic from Anatolia, revered as the father of Turkish folk poetry

Prophet Yunus (Jonah)

Religious

One of the 25 prophets in Islam, known for surviving inside a whale and being a messenger to the city of Nineveh

Quick Facts

Gender: Boy
Syllables: 2
Popularity Rank: #1,463
Total SSA Count: 124
Cultural Origins: Turkish Arabic Muslim Bengali Urdu-speaking Indonesian
Pronunciation: Moderate
Formality: Moderate
Cross-Cultural Ease: Moderate

Common Nicknames

Yunis

Pairs Well With

Yunus Ali Yunus Ahmed Yunus Hassan Yunus Ibrahim Yunus Rashid

Sibling Names

Amir Idris Fatima Zainab Ibrahim Maryam

Similar Names

Joseph Noah Joshua Jonas Jonathan Jones Jonah Johnathan

Playground Safety

Kid-Friendly

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Frequently Asked Questions About Yunus

What does the name Yunus mean?

"dove" (from Hebrew). "the prophet Jonah" (from Arabic). Yunus is the Arabic and Turkish form of Jonah, derived from the Hebrew 'Yonah,' meaning dove. In Islamic tradition, Yunus ibn Matta is revered as one of the 25 prophets mentioned in the Quran. He is known as 'Dhu al-Nun' (the One of the Whale) for his famous story of being swallowed by a large fish and emerging after repentance — a story of redemption central to Islamic faith.

What is the origin of the name Yunus?

Yunus has Hebrew, Arabic, Turkish, Muslim, Bengali, Urdu-speaking, and Indonesian origins. In Hebrew, it means "dove". In Arabic, it means "the prophet Jonah".

Is Yunus a boy or girl name?

Yunus is primarily used as a boy name.

How popular is the name Yunus?

Yunus is currently ranked #1463 in popularity for boy names in the United States.

What are common nicknames for Yunus?

Common nicknames for Yunus include Yunis.

What are good middle names for Yunus?

Popular middle name pairings include Yunus Ali, Yunus Ahmed, Yunus Hassan, Yunus Ibrahim, and Yunus Rashid.

What are good sibling names for Yunus?

Names that pair well with Yunus as siblings include Amir, Idris, Fatima, Zainab, Ibrahim, and Maryam.

How many syllables does Yunus have?

Yunus has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.

Is Yunus a common or rare name?

Yunus is an uncommon name, ranked #1463 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.

About the Name Yunus

Yunus is a boy name with Turkish, Arabic, Muslim, Bengali, Urdu-speaking, and Indonesian origins . The name means "dove" in Hebrew .

Yunus is currently ranked #1,463 in popularity for boy names in the United States.

The name Yunus has 2 syllables, making it easy to pronounce and remember.

Common nicknames for Yunus include Yunis. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.