Jonah
Boy name · #128 in 2025 · Uniqueness 44/100
In 2025, 2,828 baby boys were named Jonah, placing it at #128 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #143, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 636 boys born in 2025 was named Jonah.
Babies named Jonah per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Jonah first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 8 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2008, when 2,981 boys were named Jonah — good for #136 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Jonah against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Jonah in class?
Jonah scores 44 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Jonah is most common
Geography matters for names, and Jonah is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Jonahs were TX (311), CA (267), FL (186), NY (171), OH (133). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Jonah
Statistically, parents drawn to Jonah tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Jeremiah, Judah, Josiah, Micah, and Isaiah.
JeremiahJudahJosiahMicahIsaiahJaceXavierJude
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Jonah | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,828 | #128 |
| 2024 | 2,893 | #126 |
| 2023 | 2,900 | #124 |
| 2022 | 2,754 | #135 |
| 2021 | 2,739 | #138 |
| 2020 | 2,821 | #128 |
| 2019 | 2,693 | #139 |
| 2018 | 2,725 | #145 |
| 2017 | 2,524 | #154 |
| 2016 | 2,778 | #150 |
| 2015 | 2,913 | #143 |
| 2014 | 2,920 | #138 |
| 2013 | 2,903 | #132 |
| 2012 | 2,955 | #128 |
| 2011 | 2,867 | #144 |
| 2010 | 2,775 | #143 |
| 2009 | 2,718 | #147 |
| 2008 | 2,981 | #136 |
| 2007 | 2,510 | #165 |
| 2006 | 2,411 | #170 |
| 2005 | 2,222 | #184 |
| 2004 | 2,296 | #177 |
| 2003 | 2,431 | #164 |
| 2002 | 2,313 | #167 |
| 2001 | 1,982 | #187 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Jonah a popular boy name?
Jonah ranked #128 among boys in 2025 with 2,828 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #143.
When was the name Jonah most popular?
Jonah peaked in 2008, when 2,981 American boys received the name (ranked #136 that year). Since 2008 the name has recovered some ground.
How rare is the name Jonah?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 636 newborn American boys was named Jonah. It scores 44/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.