Boy Old & New Testament Known
Jonah
or Jonas, a dove; he that oppresses; destroyer
יוֹנָה Ἰωνᾶς yo.nah
Jonah (Hebrew: יוֹנָה, yo.nah) means “or Jonas, a dove; he that oppresses; destroyer”, by traditional interpretation. It appears in 24 verses across 4 books of the Bible. In 2025 it was given to 2,867 children in the United States, ranking 128. Around 86,075 Americans have been given it since 1880. Appears in the same passages as Abel.
The bearer in scripture
One person in scripture bears this name.
-
Jonah
son of Amittai
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 24 across 4 books
- Bearers
- 1 one person only
- Testament
- Both
- Era
- Divided Kingdom
The same name elsewhere
| Country | Form | Standing | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Jonah | rank 128 · 2,867 in 2025 | Births in year |
| Argentina | JONAS | 2,549 registrations | Births in year |
| Brazil | JONAS | 165,105 bearers · born 1930–2010 | Living residents |
| Spain | JONAS | 2,689 bearers · mean age 33.2 | Living residents |
| Portugal | Jonas | permitted | IRN approved list |
Two different questions are shown here. Rows marked births in year count children registered during a period; rows marked living residents count people of every age alive at a census. They answer different questions and are never added together.
Using it today
Based on 2025 births across the United States.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Given in 2025 | 2,867 | Steady |
| All-time total | 86,075 | Since records begin in 1880 |
| Peak | 2,998 in 2008 | Its highest year on record |
| Strongest state | CA | Highest share relative to births |
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | 2 Kings 14:25 |
| Last appears | Luke 11:32 |
| Cross-references | 509 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Amittai co-occurrence Appears with Amittai in 2 Kings 14.
- Jehoaddan co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Jehoaddan.
- Zechariah co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Zechariah.
- John co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as John.
- Abel co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Abel.
- Jehoahaz co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Jehoahaz.
Origin & meaning
A prophet living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Ki.14.25;
son of: Amittai (H0573)
Also named: Iōnas (Ἰωνᾶς "Jonah" G2495H)
§ Jonah = "dove"
son of Amittai and a native of Gath-hepher; 5th of the minor prophets who prophesied during the reign of Jeroboam II and whom God sent also to prophecy to Nineveh
Jonah, a prophet from Gath-hepher, was sent to preach to Nineveh.
The biblical story
Jonah was a prophet from Gath-hepher during the reign of Jeroboam II, king of Israel (2Ki.14.25). God called Jonah to preach against the wickedness of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria (Jon.1.1-2). Jonah fled by ship in the opposite direction to Tarshish (Jon.1.3). A storm arose and the sailors, discovering it was Jonah's fault, threw him overboard (Jon.1.4-15). God provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and he was in its belly for three days and nights (Jon.1.17). Jonah prayed, and the fish vomited him onto dry land (Jon.2.1-10). God again told Jonah to preach to Nineveh (Jon.3.1-2). Jonah obeyed, and the people repented (Jon.3.3-9). God relented of the disaster he had threatened (Jon.3.10). Jonah was angry that God spared the city (Jon.4.1-3). God caused a plant to shade Jonah, then made it wither (Jon.4.5-8). God used this to rebuke Jonah's lack of pity for Nineveh (Jon.4.9-11). Jesus compared his future burial and resurrection to Jonah's time in the fish (Mat.12.39-41, 16:4; Luk.11.29-32).
Key verses
Jonah appears in 24 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
-
He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of the Lord God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which was of Gath–hepher.
2 Kings 14:25 -
Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
Jonah 1:1 -
But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.
Jonah 1:3 -
Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep.
Jonah 1:5 -
And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah.
Jonah 1:7
Show all 24 references
2 Kings (1)
- 2 Kings 14:25
Jonah (16)
- Jonah 1:1
- Jonah 1:3
- Jonah 1:5
- Jonah 1:7
- Jonah 1:15
- Jonah 1:17
- Jonah 2:1
- Jonah 2:10
- Jonah 3:1
- Jonah 3:3
- Jonah 3:4
- Jonah 4:1
- Jonah 4:5
- Jonah 4:6
- Jonah 4:8
- Jonah 4:9
Matthew (4)
- Matthew 12:39
- Matthew 12:40
- Matthew 12:41
- Matthew 16:4
Luke (3)
- Luke 11:29
- Luke 11:30
- Luke 11:32
Name variants & nicknames
- Jonas — KJV New Testament form
- Jonás — Spanish
- Yonah — Hebrew form