Meaning & History
Jonathan is a masculine given name of Hebrew origin, derived from Yehonaṯan (יְהוֹנָתָן), meaning "Yahweh has given." The name appears in the Old Testament as the eldest son of King Saul and a close friend of David. According to the biblical narrative, Jonathan's loyalty to David strained his relationship with his father, and he died alongside Saul in battle against the Philistines.
Etymology
The name Jonathan is composed of two Hebrew elements: yeho, referring to the Yahweh, the God of Israel, and naṯan, meaning "to give." The full name thus conveys the idea of a divine gift. The longer form Yehonatan is contracted to Yonatan
History and Usage
As an English name, Jonathan did not become common until after the Protestant Reformation.
Notable Bearers
A famous bearer was the Anglo-Irish satirist Jonathan Swift (1667–1745), the author of Gulliver's Travels. Other notable individuals include Jonathan Edwards, the American theologian and a key figure in the Great Awakening, and Jonathan Franzen, a contemporary American novelist.
Variants and Related Names
Variants of Jonathan include Johnathan, Johnathon, Jonathon, and Jonatan. Diminutives include Jon, Jonny, and Jonty. In other languages, the name appears as Yehonatan or Yonatan in Hebrew, Ionathan in Biblical Latin, Jonatán in Hungarian, Joonatan in Finnish, and Jónatan in Icelandic. The nickname Yoni is common in Israel.
Popularity
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Jonathan was the 31st most popular name for boys in the United States in 2011.
- Meaning: "Yahweh has given"
- Origin: Hebrew
- Type: First name
- Gender: Male
- Usage regions: Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Norwegian, Swedish, English Bible
Related Names
Sources: Wikipedia — Jonathan (name)