Jonah
Say it: JOH-na/ˈd͡ʒəʊnə/
BoyMeans dove5 letters2 syllables
#223
in Ireland (2025)
#220 with spellings combined
21
babies in 2025
#136
best rank (2018)
583
babies since 1992
Up 33
10-year rank change
Jonah through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 21 | #220 |
| 2024 | 20 | #220 |
| 2023 | 29 | #176 |
| 2022 | 27 | #189 |
| 2021 | 40 | #149 |
| 2020 | 32 | #168 |
| 2019 | 28 | #190 |
| 2018 | 45 | #136 |
| 2017 | 28 | #203 |
| 2016 | 41 | #150 |
| 2015 | 20 | #253 |
| 2014 | 25 | #226 |
| 2013 | 22 | #245 |
| 2012 | 28 | #208 |
| 2011 | 23 | #232 |
| 2010 | 22 | #241 |
| 2009 | 31 | #185 |
| 2008 | 15 | #287 |
| 2007 | 18 | #234 |
| 2006 | 13 | #257 |
| 2005 | 10 | #268 |
| 2004 | 12 | #233 |
| 2003 | 9 | #275 |
| 2002 | 4 | #393 |
| 2001 | 5 | #317 |
| 2000 | 3 | #390 |
| 1997 | 4 | #337 |
| 1996 | 5 | #295 |
| 1992 | 3 | #337 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Jonah mean?
Dove
Hebrew, from Yonah (dove), the name of the prophet in the Book of Jonah.
Say it right
JOHna
The story of Jonah
Jonah comes from the Hebrew Yonah, meaning “dove” or “pigeon”. Jonas is another form of the same name, used in much of Europe.
In the Bible, Jonah is a prophet who tries to run from the task God has given him. He is thrown overboard in a storm and swallowed by a great fish, then spat out alive three days later. His story is also told in the Qur’an, where a chapter carries his name.
Jonah first appears in the CSO records in 1992. Its best year was 2018, when 45 boys were named Jonah and it reached number 136. It is far more popular in Northern Ireland, where it reached number 23 in 2021 and was still number 64 in 2025.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Jonah (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Jonah (given name)
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, Baby Names in Northern Ireland, full name list 1997-2025
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Jonah | 21 | 583 |
In Northern Ireland
#64 in 2025 with 36 babies. Best rank #23 (2021); 796 babies since 1999.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.