Jonathan

Jonathan is a masculine given name of Hebrew origin. It derives from Yehonatan or Yonatan, meaning “Yahweh has given” or “God has given.” In English, the name is commonly shortened to Jon or Jonathan; variants include Jonatan, Jonathon, Yonatan, and Yonatan. The spelling Jonathan is widely used in modern English-language contexts.

In the Hebrew Bible, Jonathan is the son of King Saul and prince of Israel. He is remembered for his close friendship with David and their covenant, even as Saul opposed David. The biblical figure has influenced later usage of the name in Christian and Jewish communities.

The name spread through Europe and the Americas, remaining common across generations. Diminutives include Jon and Johnny in English; in other languages, forms such as Yonatan or Yonatan appear. The spelling Jonathan is widely used today, with regional adaptations in various languages.

Notable bearers include Jonathan Edwards (1703–1758), American theologian and preacher; Jonathan Swift (1667–1745), Irish writer and satirist; Jonathan Ive (born 1967), British designer and Apple chief designer; Jonathan Demme (1944–2017), American filmmaker; Jonathan Groff (born 1985), American actor; and Jonathan Toews (born 1988), Canadian professional hockey player.

In fiction, characters named Jonathan appear in various works, such as Jonathan Joestar in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure and Jonathan Crane, the Scarecrow in Batman. The name also appears in Star Trek as Captain Jonathan Archer, among others.

The name Jonathan remains widely used across countries and languages, with multiple spellings reflecting linguistic adaptation.