Jonas (name)

Jonas
Gender Male
Origin
Word/Name Hebrew
Meaning Dove; peaceful being, destroyer, he who oppresses' accomplishing, and a gift from God
Other names
Related names Jonah, Jones, John, Joonas, Yonah, Yunus, Jonnas

Jonas is a common male name in most western countries. It is primarily used as a first name, but also occurs as a surname. It is particularly frequent in the Scandinavian countries, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark. (It is the most common name in Lithuania, but in Lithuanian it has a different origin, being the equivalent of John and Johannes and other names derived from the Greek Ιωαννης, ultimately from the Hebrew Yochanan). Its widespread use and popularity has roots in its Christian origin; the name is mostly used in countries where Christianity is the main religion, although it is also known globally. In Turkish, Arabic and the Muslim world the equivalent name is Yunus (یونس). In North America the name found popularity among Métis and Aboriginals in the Northwest.

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Meaning

The name "Jonas" has several meanings, and the meanings vary depending upon the several origins of the name. The Hebrew version of the name means Dove; a symbol of Peace. From this it is assumed that the name Jonas means a peaceful being. The Biblical version of the name includes the Hebrew meaning, but additionally means someone who is a 'destroyer' or 'he who oppresses'. As a variation of Jonah, it can be considered to mean 'accomplishing', and a 'gift from God'.

Notable people with the given name Jonas

Notable people with the surname Jonas

Fictional characters

Male variants

Contemporary use of the name Jonas

External links