Jonas (name)

English: /ˈdʒoʊnəs/ JOH-nəs
Danish: [ˈjoːnæs]
German: [ˈjoːnas]
Lithuanian: [ˈjoːnɐs]
Portuguese: [ˈʒonɐs, ˈʒonɐʃ]
Spanish: [xoˈnas]
Swedish: [ˈjûːnas]GenderMaleOriginWord/nameHebrewMeaningDove; peaceful being, accomplishing, and a gift from GodOther namesRelated namesJonah, [Yonash], John, Yonah, Yunus, Jonnas, Janusz

Jonas is a common male name in many Western world countries and Northeast Africa. It is primarily used as a first name, but also occurs as a surname. It is particularly frequent in Germany, Israel, Ethiopia, the Netherlands, Flanders and Scandinavia. It is also the most common name in Lithuania; however, in Lithuania, the name Jonas is derived from the Hebrew Yohanan as opposed to Jonah.

Its widespread use and popularity has roots in its Jewish and Christian origins. As a surname, it is often Jewish, whilst as a first name it is mostly used in countries where Christianity is the main religion, especially in Scandinavian countries, Celtic countries, and Germany. In Turkish, Arabic, Persian and the Muslim world the equivalent name is Yunus (یونس) or Yunas or Younes/Younis. In North America the name found popularity among Métis and Aboriginals in the Northwest.

Etymology

Jonas most often represents Hebrew יוֹנָה (Yōnā) meaning 'dove', the name of multiple Biblical figures. The form Jonah is taken directly from Hebrew, while the form with s is adapted through Greek.[1]

Greek Ίωνας (Ionas) may also mean "Ionian", a member of the Greek tribe Ιωνες Iones who colonized western Asia.[citation needed]

Notable people with the given name Jonas

Notable people with the surname Jonas

Fictional characters

Male variants

Contemporary use of the name Jonas

Name list
This page or section lists people that share the same given name or the same family name.
If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change that link to point directly to the intended article.

References

  1. ^ "Dansk Navneleksikon". ordnet.dk (in Danish). Det Danske Sprog- og Litteraturselskab. Retrieved 2024-02-04.