Jonathan is a name of Hebrew origin, meaning "gift from God." It was first used as a personal name by the famous Jewish historian Josephus in his book Antiquities of the Jews, published around 93 AD. In this work, he mentions Jonathan Maccabaeus, a high priest and ruler during the second century BC, who led the successful rebellion against the Seleucid Empire.
The name Jonathan gained popularity during the Protestant Reformation in Europe when it was used by several prominent figures, such as English Puritans and French Huguenots. It also became popular among American settlers due to its biblical associations and was further popularized by authors like Henry James, who used the name for characters in his novels.
Throughout history, Jonathan has been associated with various notable individuals, including Jonathan Swift, the Irish satirist and author of Gulliver's Travels; Jonathan Edwards, an influential American theologian and preacher; and Jonathan Larson, the composer of the musical Rent. Today, Jonathan remains a popular name worldwide, often appearing in variations such as Jon, Johnny, or Sean (from its Irish form Seán). Despite its widespread use, Jonathan has maintained a strong association with its biblical roots and continues to be viewed as a classic, timeless name.
The name Jhonathan has seen a varied trend in popularity over the past few decades in the United States. Between 1973 and 2023, there have been a total of 893 babies born with this name.
The peak years for the name appear to be between 1987 and 2005, during which time there were consistently high numbers of births each year. The highest number of births in any single year was in 2004, with a total of 40 babies named Jhonathan.
However, after 2005, the popularity of the name began to decline. Between 2016 and 2023, there were fewer than 20 births each year with this name, indicating that it is now less common.
Despite this recent decline in popularity, the name Jhonathan still has a significant history in the United States, with hundreds of babies being named as such over the past five decades.