Jonas

♂ Boy

Pronounced JOH-nas /ˈdʒoʊ.nəs/High

Meaning: Greek form of the Hebrew name Jonah (Yonah), meaning 'dove'; also used in some traditions as a form of John (from Hebrew Yochanan, 'God is gracious'), though the primary meaning is 'dove'High

In 30 seconds: Jonas is the elegant Greek-European form of Jonah — the biblical prophet of the whale — meaning 'dove.' It is widely used across Europe and rising strongly in the U.S.

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Origin HighHebrew, Greek

MeaningGreek form of the Hebrew name Jonah (Yonah), meaning 'dove'; also used in some traditions as a form of John (from Hebrew Yochanan, 'God is gracious'), though the primary meaning is 'dove'

U.S. rank (2025)#599 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births476 boys (0.03% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2008

Total births (all-time)≈ 28,540

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Jonas is the Greek and Latin form of the Hebrew Yonah ('dove'). Jonah was the biblical prophet swallowed by a great fish and later released, tasked with preaching repentance to Nineveh. The Greek form Jonas was used by early Christians and spread throughout Europe, becoming particularly common in Germany, Scandinavia, and the Baltics.

Jonas has been consistently popular in Germany, Scandinavia, and Lithuania for centuries and has been growing in the United States since the 2000s. It benefits from familiarity (sounds like the Jonas Brothers band) while feeling more distinguished than plain Jonah. It now ranks in the U.S. top 200.

Did you know? Jonas Salk, who developed the first effective polio vaccine in 1955 and refused to patent it — saying it belonged to the people — gave the name Jonas a lasting association with selfless scientific achievement and humanitarian generosity.

Overall data confidence 95%

Behind the Name — Jonas — etymology and historyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

JonahJonathanYonas

Nicknames

JoJon

Famous Bearers

★Jonas Salk (1914–1995)
American virologist who developed the first effective polio vaccine and refused to patent it.

If you like Jonas…

Jonah— the Hebrew original of which Jonas is the Greek/Latin form

Elias— Greek form of a Hebrew prophet name with the same ancient scriptural resonance

Silas— two-syllable biblical name with the same European-classical feel and rising U.S. popularity

Tobias— Greek-form Hebrew biblical name with the same three-syllable European elegance

Frequently Asked

What does the name Jonas mean?

Jonas is the Greek form of Jonah, from Hebrew Yonah meaning 'dove.'

How do you pronounce Jonas?

It is said JOH-nas — two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Jonas a boy or girl name?

Jonas is used exclusively as a boys' name.

How popular is Jonas?

Jonas has been rising in the U.S. top 200 boys' names in recent years, popular both for its biblical roots and its association with the Jonas Brothers.