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
Jonas, father of
Simon Peter; written as "John" or "Jonah" in some translations of the Bible.
Jonas Aidoo (born 2002), American basketball player
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
^"Dansk Navneleksikon". ordnet.dk (in Danish). Det Danske Sprog- og Litteraturselskab. Retrieved 2024-02-04.
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
Jonas, father of
Simon Peter; written as "John" or "Jonah" in some translations of the Bible.
Jonas Aidoo (born 2002), American basketball player
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
^"Dansk Navneleksikon". ordnet.dk (in Danish). Det Danske Sprog- og Litteraturselskab. Retrieved 2024-02-04.