Given name & surname
Jona
“dove”·“God has given”·“a gift of God”
In German use, Jona is a variant of Jonah. One Hebrew interpretation is “dove.” Jona is a short form of Jonathan. Interpretations include “God has given” and “a gift of God” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
In German use, Jona is a variant of Jonah. One Hebrew interpretation is “dove.” Jona is a short form of Jonathan. Interpretations include “God has given” and “a gift of God” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In German use, Jona is a variant of Jonah. An origin associated with Jonah is Hebrew.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In Norwegian Bokmål usage, Jona is a short form of Jonathan.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1922. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In German use, Jona is a variant of Jonah. The history of Jonah gives this family its wider story. In biblical tradition, Jonah is the name of a prophet.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Jona through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 2,277
- 526 boys · 1,751 girls
- Most popular year
- 1964
- 57 babies
- 2025
- 19
- #6,631 for boys · #13,975 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +2%
- Steady
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 13 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 6,631 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was virtually unchanged in 2021–2025 compared with 2016–2020. It also appeared in 6 birth records for girls in 2025. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,638 as a first name in 2020; 111 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Jona’s family of names
In Norwegian Bokmål usage, Jona is a short form of Jonathan. In Norwegian Bokmål usage, Jona shares a linguistic root with the English form Jonah. Jona has a related form in John.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Jona has relatives in 6 languages.
7 related names in 6 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 6
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 3
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Jona
- Jona SenilagakaliPrime Minister of Fiji (1929-2011)
- Jona LenderingDutch historianborn 1964
- JonaSpanish-born Honduran professional footballerborn 1989
- Yonah GerondiSpanish rabbi1210–1263
- Jona EfolokoBritish athleteborn 1999
- Jona LewieEnglish singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalistborn 1947
- Jona WeinhofenAustralian guitaristborn 1983
- Jona OberskiDutch physicistborn 1938
- Jona von UstinovGerman-British journalist, diplomat and spy1892–1962
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Jona, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Jacky
“God is gracious” · “the supplanter”
73% boys · 27% girls
Tobi
“God is good” · “The Lord is good”
60% boys · 40% girls
Toby
“The Lord is good” · “God is good”
72% boys · 28% girls
Dannie
“he judged”
47% boys · 53% girls
Tommie
“twin”
43% boys · 57% girls
Elisha
“God is my salvation”
74% boys · 26% girls
Mica
“who is like (Yahweh)?”
54% boys · 46% girls
Joey
“God shall add” · “God will add”
65% boys · 35% girls