Fun Facts About the Name Jona
- More than 2 thousand babies named Jona: U.S. records list 2,277 babies given the name Jona from 1880 through 2025. Even 526 boys received the name Jona - about 1 boy for every 3 girls.
What Does the Name Jona Mean?
Jona is a form of the Hebrew name Yonah (יוֹנָה), usually rendered Jonah in English, and it means "dove." The Hebrew word yonah is the ordinary noun for a dove, so the name's literal sense is the bird.
The name passed into European languages through the Greek biblical form Iōnas and the Latin Jonas. Jona is the usual German and Dutch form of the prophet's name, while English usually uses Jonah; the two spellings reflect different transliteration traditions rather than separate Hebrew roots.
Jona Name History & Origins
The Hebrew name Yonah is borne by the prophet Jonah, son of Amittai, the central figure in the Book of Jonah. The Greek Septuagint calls him Iōnas, and the Latin Bible uses Jonas; these biblical forms carried the name into Christian Europe.
In German and Dutch, Jona became the standard form of the prophet's name and is also used as a masculine given name. English translations generally use Jonah, and Jona appears in English as a variant of that name. Related forms such as Jonas also descend from the same Hebrew name, but the final -s in Jonas belongs to the Greek and Latin forms rather than to the Hebrew original.
How Popular is the Name Jona?
Jona has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 1964. Its best rank was #1,508 in 1964.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #13,975 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2024 | #10,613 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 2023 | #6,268 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 2022 | #9,320 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 2021 | #7,799 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 2020 | #6,464 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 2019 | #10,076 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2018 | #8,340 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2017 | #11,103 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2016 | #15,180 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2015 | #7,427 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2014 | #9,828 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2013 | #12,532 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2012 | #6,987 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2011 | #14,004 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2009 | #10,296 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2008 | #11,171 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2007 | #6,945 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2006 | #14,259 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2005 | #11,321 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2004 | #7,226 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2003 | #7,376 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2002 | #6,860 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2001 | #4,903 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 2000 | #6,969 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1999 | #9,107 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1998 | #4,861 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 1997 | #4,280 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 1996 | #5,641 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1995 | #5,303 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1994 | #5,341 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1993 | #7,224 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1992 | #6,135 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1991 | #4,260 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 1990 | #4,585 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 1989 | #5,149 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1988 | #3,748 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 1987 | #3,909 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 1986 | #3,590 | 24 | 0.0014% |
| 1985 | #3,776 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 1984 | #3,453 | 24 | 0.0014% |
| 1983 | #3,478 | 23 | 0.0014% |
| 1982 | #2,506 | 38 | 0.0022% |
| 1981 | #2,465 | 39 | 0.0023% |
| 1980 | #2,716 | 34 | 0.0020% |
| 1979 | #2,407 | 39 | 0.0024% |
| 1978 | #2,647 | 32 | 0.0021% |
| 1977 | #3,532 | 21 | 0.0014% |
| 1976 | #2,686 | 29 | 0.0020% |
| 1975 | #2,767 | 27 | 0.0019% |
| 1974 | #2,362 | 33 | 0.0022% |
| 1973 | #3,394 | 19 | 0.0013% |
| 1972 | #2,626 | 27 | 0.0018% |
| 1971 | #2,395 | 32 | 0.0019% |
| 1970 | #1,938 | 44 | 0.0025% |
| 1969 | #1,879 | 44 | 0.0026% |
| 1968 | #1,952 | 38 | 0.0023% |
| 1967 | #1,832 | 41 | 0.0025% |
| 1966 | #1,842 | 39 | 0.0023% |
| 1965 | #1,874 | 38 | 0.0022% |
| 1964 | #1,508 | 57 | 0.0030% |
| 1963 | #1,533 | 54 | 0.0028% |
| 1962 | #1,841 | 39 | 0.0020% |
| 1961 | #1,617 | 49 | 0.0024% |
| 1960 | #2,168 | 29 | 0.0014% |
| 1959 | #2,368 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 1958 | #2,533 | 21 | 0.0010% |
| 1957 | #2,446 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 1956 | #2,572 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1955 | #2,040 | 28 | 0.0014% |
| 1954 | #2,336 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 1953 | #3,365 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1952 | #4,682 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1951 | #3,194 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1950 | #4,511 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1949 | #3,277 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1948 | #5,610 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1947 | #5,683 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1946 | #3,814 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1945 | #3,258 | 9 | 0.0007% |
| 1944 | #4,889 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1943 | #2,947 | 11 | 0.0008% |
| 1942 | #3,920 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1939 | #4,566 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1937 | #4,024 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1933 | #3,964 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #6,631 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2024 | #4,120 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 2023 | #4,530 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 2022 | #4,775 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 2021 | #6,171 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2020 | #4,073 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 2019 | #4,405 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 2018 | #5,408 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2017 | #5,652 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2016 | #5,662 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2015 | #6,497 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2014 | #6,137 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 2013 | #6,800 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2012 | #5,836 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2011 | #6,402 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2010 | #5,877 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2009 | #8,634 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2008 | #6,243 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 2007 | #5,547 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2006 | #9,111 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2005 | #9,589 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2004 | #7,850 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2003 | #6,473 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2002 | #5,552 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2001 | #8,725 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2000 | #6,107 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1999 | #5,835 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1998 | #7,184 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1997 | #7,670 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1996 | #6,230 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1995 | #8,292 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1994 | #6,666 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1988 | #5,445 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1987 | #7,520 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1985 | #5,438 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1982 | #4,399 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1981 | #4,323 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1980 | #6,728 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1978 | #3,717 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1977 | #6,318 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1976 | #5,259 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1974 | #4,007 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1971 | #4,162 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1926 | #4,518 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1925 | #3,572 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1922 | #4,637 | 5 | 0.0005% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Jona Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are honest, benevolent, brilliant and often inventive, full of high inspirations. You are courageous, honest, determined, original and creative. You are a leader, especially for a cause. Sometimes you do not care to finish what you start, and may leave details to others. You can do well in position of authority, and prospers in intellectual and professional fields. You are frank, methodical and believe in law, system and order.
Dependable, very down-to-earth and well grounded, you are always looking for meaningful work, a career where you can take pride in your work and do the best job you are capable of. Your prime desire is to build protected and secure environment at home and at work. You can be very persuasive in achieving goals and gaining objectives. You can be very detailed and well-organized and possess great organizational skills. At times you may appear too stubborn and overly critical to others, but your practical approach to life and productivity makes you one of the most beneficent members of community.
✦ Jona's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Jona's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.