Meaning & History
Jonas is the Greek form of Jonah, appearing as Ἰωνᾶς (Ionas) in the New Testament and used in some English Bible translations. The name is derived from the Hebrew יוֹנָה (Yona), meaning "dove". In the Old Testament Book of Jonah, the prophet Jonah is swallowed by a great fish after fleeing from God's command to preach in Nineveh; he survives after three days, a story often interpreted as a prefiguration of Christ's resurrection.
Distribution and Usage
Jonas is common in Northern and Central Europe, particularly in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Germany, France, and the Netherlands. In these regions it is a standard given name, often linked to Saint Jonas (also known as Saint Jonah). In English-speaking countries, Jonas is relatively less common but recognized biblically or through cultural figures such as the singer Jonas Brothers (where the surname derives from the given name).
Variants and Related Forms
Among related forms are Yonas (Tigrinya), Younis (Arabic), Yunus (Turkish), Younes (Persian), Yunis (Azerbaijani), and the biblical Latin Ionas. Surname derivatives include Jonasen (Danish) and Jonasson (Swedish).
Notable Bearers
- Jonas (prophet) – biblical figure
- Jonas Salk (1914–1995) – American virologist who developed the first successful polio vaccine
- Jonas Mekas (1922–2019) – Lithuanian-American avant-garde filmmaker
- Jonas Kaufmann (b. 1969) – German operatic tenor
- Jonas Brothers – American pop band formed in 2005