Yehonatan is a Hebrew name that serves as a direct form of Jonathan (and Jehonathan). It closely mirrors the Biblical Hebrew name Yəhōnāṯān, which appears in the original text alongside the contracted form Yōnāṯān. The name literally means "Yahweh has given" – derived from the verbal root naṯan meaning "to give" and the theophoric prefix yeho referring to the Hebrew God. Notable Bearers in the Bible In the Old Testament, Jonathan (Yehonatan) was the eldest son of King Saul and the loyal friend of David. His story appears in 1 Samuel, where he forms a covenant with David despite his father's hostility. Yehonatan is killed alongside his father at the Battle of Mount Gilboa. Usage and Variants The full form Yehonatan is rarely heard outside Hebrew-speaking communities, where it coexists with the shorter Yonatan — a biblical variant written without the letter he. Both names are common among Jewish Israelis. The abbreviated nickname Yoni is famously associated with Lieutenant Colonel Yonatan Netanyahu, commander of the 1976 Entebbe raid. Cultural Significance Like Jonathan, Yehonatan belongs to the body of names composed with Yeho (a shortened form of Yahweh), a theophoric pattern dominant in biblical Hebrew. This group emphasizes divine agency – in this case, donation (natan giving). Because the name explicitly references Yahweh's gift, it expresses gratitude and devotion. Meaning: Yahweh has given Origin: Hebrew Usage: Hebrew, Hebrew Bible Variants: Yonatan, Jonathan (English)