Jonah Name Meaning, Origin & Gender

Jonah Name at a Glance

Name	Jonah
Meaning	Dove. In the Bible, the prophet Jonah was swallowed by a whale after God caused his ship to sink and then was tossed up onto dry land after three days and nights. Sailors traditionally use the name Jonah to personify someone who brings bad luck.
Origin	Hebrew
Gender	Boy

What Does the Name Jonah Mean?

According to the information recorded in our baby name database, Jonah means “Dove. In the Bible, the prophet Jonah was swallowed by a whale after God caused his ship to sink and then was tossed up onto dry land after three days and nights. Sailors traditionally use the name Jonah to personify someone who brings bad luck”. Name meanings can vary between languages, regions and naming traditions, so families may also wish to confirm a meaning within the cultural or linguistic context that matters to them.

Jonah Name Origin

Our database records Jonah under Hebrew origin. Browse more Hebrew baby names to compare other names in the same origin collection.

Is Jonah a Boy or Girl Name?

In our database, Jonah is listed as a boy name. Usage can differ across countries, languages and families.

Choosing the Name Jonah

When considering Jonah for a baby, you may want to compare its recorded meaning and origin with family traditions, pronunciation, spelling, initials, middle names and how the full name sounds with the family name.