Jona Unisex

Popularity: #942 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: JOH-nah //ˈjoʊ.nə//

Origin: Hebrew; Dutch

Meaning: Hebrew: dove; Dutch: God is gracious

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Jona has its roots in the Hebrew name יוֹנָה (Yonah), which means "dove." This etymology reflects a symbol of peace and purity, as the dove is often associated with these qualities in various cultural contexts. The name transitioned into Greek as Ἰωνάς (Ionas) and later into Latin as Iona, before making its way into Old French and eventually into English as Jona.

The evolution of the name highlights its enduring significance across different languages and cultures, maintaining its original connotation of tranquility. Historically, the name Jona is closely linked to the biblical figure Jonah, a prophet mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, particularly in the Book of Jonah, which dates back to the 8th century BCE.

The story of Jonah, who was swallowed by a great fish and later emerged to fulfill God's command, has been a source of moral and theological reflection throughout centuries. The narrative was translated into Greek in the Septuagint and later into Latin in the Vulgate, further solidifying the name's presence in Christian tradition.

The name appears in various forms across different cultures, including the feminine variant Jona, which has been used in various contexts. Culturally, the name Jona carries connotations of hope and renewal, often associated with the themes of redemption found in the Jonah narrative.

The dove, as a symbol, has been utilized in art and literature to represent peace and the Holy Spirit, further enhancing the name's resonance in religious and cultural contexts. The name's simplicity and melodic quality have contributed to its appeal, while its biblical roots provide a rich historical backdrop that continues to inspire various interpretations and adaptations in different cultures.

Famous people named Jona

In this section, you will find notable people named Jona. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Jona who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Jona who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Jona Lewie is a singer-songwriter best known for You Will Always Find Me in the Kitchen at Parties, Stop the Cavalry, and Louise.

Jona than Groff is an actor best known for Hamilton, Mindhunter, and Looking.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Jona, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

MayaLilaNinaSophieElla

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Jona. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

JanaJolieJunaJoelleJasmineJada

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Jona was first seen in the United States in 1922.

Jona has ranked as high as #2407 nationally, which occurred in 1964, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Illinois, Washington, and Colorado.

In the past 5 years the name Jona has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Jona is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Jona was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Jona.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 19 13 6
2024 35 26 9
2023 42 23 19
2022 32 21 11
2021 28 14 14
2020 43 25 18
2019 33 23 10
2018 30 17 13
2017 25 16 9
2016 22 16 6
2015 29 13 16
2014 25 14 11
2013 20 12 8
2012 33 15 18
2011 20 13 7
2010 15 15 0
2009 20 9 11
2008 24 14 10
2007 35 16 19
2006 15 8 7
2005 16 7 9
2004 25 9 16
2003 26 11 15
2002 29 13 16
2001 31 7 24
2000 26 11 15
1999 21 11 10
1998 30 8 22
1997 32 7 25
1996 26 9 17
1995 24 6 18
1994 26 8 18
1993 12 0 12
1992 15 0 15
1991 24 0 24
1990 21 0 21
1989 17 0 17
1988 33 8 25
1987 27 5 22
1986 24 0 24
1985 29 7 22
1984 24 0 24
1983 23 0 23
1982 47 9 38
1981 48 9 39
1980 39 5 34
1979 39 0 39
1978 42 10 32
1977 26 5 21
1976 35 6 29
1975 27 0 27
1974 41 8 33
1973 19 0 19
1972 27 0 27
1971 39 7 32
1970 44 0 44
1969 44 0 44
1968 38 0 38
1967 41 0 41
1966 39 0 39
1965 38 0 38
1964 57 0 57
1963 54 0 54
1962 39 0 39
1961 49 0 49
1960 29 0 29
1959 24 0 24
1958 21 0 21
1957 22 0 22
1956 20 0 20
1955 28 0 28
1954 22 0 22
1953 12 0 12
1952 7 0 7
1951 12 0 12
1950 7 0 7
1949 11 0 11
1948 5 0 5
1947 5 0 5
1946 8 0 8
1945 9 0 9
1944 5 0 5
1943 11 0 11
1942 7 0 7
1939 5 0 5
1937 6 0 6
1933 6 0 6
1926 5 5 0
1925 7 7 0
1922 5 5 0

Top States for Jona (2023)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
TX 5
100%