Jonah Name Meaning, Origin and Pronunciation

ByNamelyra Editorial Team

Jonah is a Hebrew-origin boy’s name meaning “dove,” best known as the Biblical prophet swallowed by a great fish in the Book of Jonah.
Meaning dove
Origin Hebrew
Pronunciation JOH-nuh
Gender Boy
Related forms Jonas (a Greek-influenced variant)

Origin and history

Jonah’s meaning, dove, connects to a bird traditionally associated with peace in many cultures, which sits in interesting contrast to his turbulent Biblical narrative: reluctantly sent to prophesy in Nineveh, swallowed by a great fish after trying to flee his task, and eventually completing it after his ordeal. The name has stayed remarkably consistent across languages, with Jonas as its main variant form.

Is Jonah a boy or girl name?

Jonah is used almost exclusively as a boy’s name.

Names similar to Jonah

  • Jonas (a Greek-influenced variant form)

Frequently asked questions

Is Jonah’s story only about being swallowed by a whale?

The famous image is the great fish, though the Book of Jonah’s actual focus is on his reluctance to prophesy and his eventual change of heart, with the fish serving as a turning point rather than the entire story.

Is Jonah related to Jonas?

Yes, Jonas is a variant form of the same underlying Hebrew name, shaped by Greek influence.

Related reading

Related culture pages: Biblical boy names, Hebrew and Jewish names.