Baby Name Popularity Profile

Jonathan

Data-driven SSA statistics, rankings, and historical trends for Jonathan.

✦ Gift of God 🌍 Hebrew biblical traditional
National Rank (2025) #89
All-Time Peak Rank #15 Achieved 1988
Total U.S. Births 870,866 since 1880
Unisex Distribution 99.9% Boy / 0.1% Girl Overwhelmingly Male
First Recorded 1880 Last seen: 2025
Peak Decade 1980s 24,349 births in 1988
💡 The Jonathan Vibe: Considered a Perennial Favorite. A historic staple that has maintained dominant national popularity for over half a century.

🌍 Meaning & Etymology

Primary Meaning Gift of God
Language Origin Hebrew
Origin Type single
Derived from Hebrew Yonatan, meaning 'Yahweh has given'.
Common Nicknames
Jon Jonny Jono
Alternative Spellings
Jonathon
Pronunciation: JON-uh-thun
Themes & Categories
biblical traditional
Etymology confidence: High

📖 The Story Behind Jonathan

According to SSA data, Jonathan achieved its highest historical rank of #15 in 1988. Its highest annual registration volume occurred in 1988 with 24,349 babies. Between 2015 and 2025, modern registrations have decreased by 50.1%. Overall, the name has maintained a ranked presence for 146 consecutive years.

📊 Factual Timeline & Current Trajectory (1880 – 2025)

Registration footprint of Jonathan across 145 years of SSA data.

5-Year Trajectory Declining
10-Year Shift -50.1% Decline
18801920196020002025

📈 Popularity Milestones & Volatility

Busiest Year on Record 24,349 births in 1988
Years in Top 100 64 yrs
Years in Top 500 105 yrs
Registry Streak 146 yrs
Historical Volatility Highly Volatile
Largest 1-Year Jump N/A
Decade-by-Decade Registration Volumes
1880s: 192
1890s: 129
1900s: 139
1910s: 660
1920s: 1,078
1930s: 1,663
1940s: 8,296
1950s: 25,816
1960s: 47,389
1970s: 107,926
1980s: 229,953
1990s: 197,503
2000s: 144,848
2010s: 79,888
2020s: 25,386

📐 Sound & Spelling Structure

Phonetic Syllables Jo-nat-han
Letter Count 8 letters
Spelling Complexity Complex
Length Percentile Longer than 79% of names
Linguistic Profile: Longer than 79.0% of SSA names. Starts with J, a letter used by only 7.8% of SSA names.

🛠️ Sibling & Surname Cadence Tool

Enter a surname or sibling name to test how it pairs with Jonathan.

📍 Authentic State & Regional Rankings

Highest Ranking State Nevada
Top States Nevada, New Hampshire, Florida, California, Alaska
States with Data 51
State 2025 Rank Total Births Peak Year 5-Yr Velocity
Nevada #85 4,556 1998 30.0% Decline
New Hampshire #116 4,168 1985 Insufficient historical volume
Florida #85 43,205 1990 23.8% Decline
California #65 122,519 1990 25.1% Decline
Alaska #71 1,704 1984 Insufficient historical volume
Hawaii #191 3,613 1981 Insufficient historical volume
Connecticut #68 12,549 1990 +10.4% Growth
Delaware #97 2,303 1992 Insufficient historical volume
Arizona #88 13,457 2001 16.8% Decline
Massachusetts #78 25,696 1986 3.3% Decline
Rhode Island #93 3,758 1990 Insufficient historical volume
North Carolina #83 29,314 1982 7.5% Decline
District of Columbia #152 4,556 1985 Insufficient historical volume
Virginia #81 22,248 1984 13.1% Decline
Texas #79 74,817 1997 20.3% Decline
New Jersey #96 26,874 1989 32.2% Decline
Georgia #100 27,040 1986 31.5% Decline
Tennessee #107 20,328 1981 19.0% Decline
New York #90 72,559 1990 29.7% Decline
Maryland #67 13,861 1986 25.7% Decline
Oregon #115 8,322 1982 34.6% Decline
New Mexico #131 4,897 1984 50.0% Decline
South Carolina #78 12,808 1986 5.8% Decline
Alabama #64 15,819 1981 +2.9% Growth
Colorado #130 10,326 1982 28.6% Decline
Utah #164 6,999 1982 37.0% Decline
Washington #77 13,667 1983 Stable
Maine #190 3,719 1984 Insufficient historical volume
Vermont Unranked 1,426 1982 Insufficient historical volume
Kentucky #107 13,517 1982 8.9% Decline
Louisiana #123 13,431 1981 6.7% Decline
Illinois #108 35,740 1990 37.0% Decline
Arkansas #163 7,804 1984 28.1% Decline
Mississippi #121 8,993 1981 48.1% Decline
Idaho #136 2,747 1983 Insufficient historical volume
Minnesota #115 12,287 1981 Stable
Indiana #103 15,597 1986 5.1% Decline
Pennsylvania #92 35,197 1981 10.5% Decline
Ohio #121 30,008 1982 6.7% Decline
Wyoming Unranked 876 1984 Insufficient historical volume
West Virginia #160 5,881 1981 Insufficient historical volume
Oklahoma #80 8,481 1985 +2.0% Growth
Wisconsin #167 12,037 1981 30.9% Decline
Michigan #118 22,753 1986 6.6% Decline
Kansas #89 6,327 1981 14.9% Decline
Nebraska #132 4,389 1982 23.1% Decline
Missouri #128 13,294 1983 +3.7% Growth
Montana Unranked 1,721 1980 Insufficient historical volume
North Dakota #185 1,868 1982 Insufficient historical volume
Iowa #148 6,721 1983 +7.4% Growth
South Dakota #120 1,655 1982 Insufficient historical volume

👨‍👩‍👧 Sibling Name Suggestions

👦 Brother Suggestions
Benjamin Christopher Matthew Daniel Andrew Aaron Ryan Adam Wilfredo Norberto
👧 Sister Suggestions
Ashley Sarah Meredith Danielle Brittany Adrienne Kristina Katherin Adrianne Stefanie

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