Jonah
Boy name · #128 in 2025 · Well-known
How old is the name Jonah? In official American birth records, Jonah has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
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. Source: Official national birth records.
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?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Jonah is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "well-known". A low score means broad familiarity: teachers will spell it right, and your child may share it with a classmate. For many families that's a feature, not a bug.
Where Jonah is most common
Geography matters for names, and Jonah is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Jonah is most common in DC (4.7 per 1,000), ME (4.2 per 1,000), ND (3.3 per 1,000), CT (2.7 per 1,000), KY (2.7 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 1.9 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Jonah is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
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
How old is the name Jonah?
In official American birth records, the name Jonah first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 8 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
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. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "well-known".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.