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Jonas is a common male name in many countries in the Western world and Northeast Africa. It is primarily used as a first name, but also occurs as a surname. It is particularly frequent in Germany, Israel, Ethiopia, the Netherlands, Flanders and Scandinavia. It is also the most common name in Lithuania; however, in Lithuania, the name Jonas is derived from the Hebrew Yohanan as opposed to Jonah.
Jonas is a common male name in many countries in the Western world and Northeast Africa. It is primarily used as a first name, but also occurs as a surname. It is particularly frequent in Germany, Israel, Ethiopia, the Netherlands, Flanders and Scandinavia. It is also the most common name in Lithuania; however, in Lithuania, the name Jonas is derived from the Hebrew Yohanan as opposed to Jonah.
Its widespread use and popularity has roots in its Jewish and Christian origins. As a surname, it is often Jewish, whilst as a first name it is mostly used in countries where Christianity is the main religion, especially in Scandinavian countries, Celtic countries, and Germany. In Turkish, Arabic, Persian and the Muslim world the equivalent name is Yunus (یونس) or Yunas or Younes/Younis. In North America the name found popularity among Métis and Aboriginals in the Northwest.
Contents
Etymology
Jonas most often represents Hebrew יוֹנָה (Yōnā) meaning 'dove', the name of multiple Biblical figures. The form Jonah is taken directly from Hebrew, while the form with s is adapted through Greek.
Greek Ίωνας (Ionas) may also mean "Ionian", a member of the Greek tribe Ιωνες Iones who colonized western Asia.
Male variants
Giona (Italian)
Jonàs (Catalan)
Jona (Croatian)
Jonáš (Czech)
Jonah (English)
Jonas (German, Swedish, Dutch, Lithuanian and Portuguese)
Jónás (Hungarian)
Jónas (Icelandic)
Joona (Finnish)
Joonas (Finnish)
Junis (Kazakh)
Yona (요나) (Korean)
Junus (Kyrgyz)
Jonasz (Polish)
Jonaš (Prekmurje Slovene)
Jonáš (Slovak)
Jona (Slovene)
Jonás (Spanish)
Yona (Hebrew)
Yonas (ዮናስ) (Amharic) (Ethiopian)
Yunus (Turkish)
Yunes (یونس) (Persian)
Younes (يونس) (Arabic)
Joonas (Estonian and Finnish)
Yunsi (Berber)
Ionas (Ίωνας) (Greek)
Notable people with the given name
Jonas Aidoo (born 2002), American basketball player
Jonas Åkerlund, Swedish movie and music video director
Jonas Erik Altberg (born 1984)Pages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets, Swedish singer, record producer and DJ, Basshunter
Jonas Armstrong, British/Irish actor
Jonas Arnell, Herald in the Chancery of the Swedish Royal Orders of Knighthood
Jonas Backofen (born 2001), Austrian curler
Jonas Bade (born 1956), Papua New Guinean boxer
Jonas Baes (born 1961), Filipino composer
Jonas Bager (born 1996), Danish footballer
Jonas Bahamboula (born 1949), Congolese footballer
Jonas Balan (born 1956), Haitian artist
Jonas Bane (born 1987), Swedish actor
Jonas Basanavičius (1851–1927), Lithuanian activist
Jonas Mohammed Bath (died 1838), Community leader in Trinidad
Jonas Baumann (born 1990), Swiss cross-country skier
Jonas Bauža (1942–2001), Soviet/Lithuanian footballer
Jonas Behounek (born 1998), German footballer
Notable people with the surname
Abraham Jonas (politician), politician
Abraham Jonas (rugby league), rugby player
Alberto Jonás, pianist
Ann Jonas, writer
Benjamin F. Jonas, politician
Billy Jonas, folk musician
Bruno Jonas, German political cabaret artist
Charles Jonas (Wisconsin politician) (1840–1896), Czech-American journalist, politician and diplomat
Charles A. Jonas (1876–1955), American politician
Charles R. Jonas (1904–1988), American politician
Clemens Jonas, figure skater
Danielle Jonas, wife of Kevin
Don Jonas, American footballer
Dusty Jonas, high jumper
Edgar A. Jonas, politician
Émile Jonas (1827–1905), French composer
Fran Jonas (born 2004), New Zealand cricketer
Frankie Jonas, brother of Nick
Franz Jonas, politician, President of Austria
Gavin Jonas, South African politician
Fictional characters
Eldred Jonas, character from the novel Wizard and Glass by Stephen King
Jonas, the main character in The Giver by Lois Lowry
Jonas, a character in the online serial lonelygirl15
Jonas Blane, one of the lead characters in the American TV show The Unit
Jonas Grumby, the Skipper from the TV sitcom Gilligan's Island
Jonas Hodges, a villain in Season 7 of the TV series 24
Jonas Morecock, a gay pornographic animated character
Jonas Quinn, character in the sci-fi series Stargate SG-1
Michael Jonas, character in the sci-fi series Star Trek: Voyager
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Jonas Bendiksen (born 1977), Norwegian photojournalist
Jonas Bendorius (1889–1954), Soviet conductor and composer
Jonas Berggren (born 1967), Swedish musician and producer
Jonas Berglund (born 1990), Swedish ice hockey player
Jonas Bergman (1724–1810), Finnish painter
Jonas Bergquist (born 1966), Swedish chemist, neuroscientist and professor
Jonas Bergqvist (born 1962), Swedish ice hockey player
Jonas Bergström (born 1946), Swedish actor
Jonas Bering (born 1975), Musical artist
Jonas Berkeley, Musical artist
Jonas Bernholm (born 1946), Swedish record producer
Jonas Bevacqua (1977–2011), American clothing designer and entrepreneur
Jonas Biliūnas (1879–1907), Lithuanian writer
Jonas Biržiškis (1932–2025), Lithuanian politician
Jonas Bjerre (born 1976), Musical artist
Jonas Buhl Bjerre (born 2004), Danish chess grandmaster
Jonas Björkman (born 1972), Swedish tennis player and coach
Jonas Björler (born 1973), Swedish bassist
Jonas Bjurström (born 1979), Swedish footballer
Jonas Blaymire, 18th-century Irish draughtsman
Jonas Blixt (born 1984), Swedish professional golfer
Jonas Bloch (born 1939), Brazilian actor
Jonas Bloquet (born 1992), Belgian actor and film director
Jonas Blue (born 1989), English DJ and producer
Jonas of Bobbio (0600–0659), Columbanian monk
Jonas Axel Boeck (1833–1873), Norwegian marine biologist
Jonas Bokeloh (born 1996), German cyclist
Jonas Bondi (1804–1874), German-American rabbi and newspaper editor
Jonas Bonnier (born 1963), Swedish author
Jonas Borring (born 1985), Danish footballer
Jonas Algimantas Boruta (1944–2022), Lithuanian Roman Catholic prelate
Jonas Bösiger (born 1995), Swiss snowboarder
Jonas Brammen (born 1997), German footballer
Jonas Brändle (born 2000), German footballer
Jonas Bretkūnas (1536–1602), Prussian Lutheran pastor and writer
Jonas Brodin (born 1993), Swedish ice hockey player
Jonas Bronck (1600–1643), Namesake of Bronx, New York
Jonas Brorsson (born 1963), Swedish footballer
Jonas Brunvoll Jr. (1920–1982), Norwegian opera singer and actor
Jonas Brunvoll Sr. (1894–1969), Norwegian advertising manager
Jonas Bruun (1911–1977), Danish Supreme Court attorney
Jonas Budde (1644–1710), Danish-Norwegian army officer
Jonas Budrys (1889–1964), Lithuanian counterintelligence officer
Jonas Burba (1907–1952), Lithuanian artist
Jonas Burgert (born 1969), German artist
Jonas Buud (born 1974), Swedish long-distance runner
Jonas Bužinskas (1917–1948), Lithuanian footballer
Jonas Bylund (born 1963), Swedish musician
Jonas Chollet (born 2008), French snowboarder
Jonas Deichmann, German adventurer, ultra-endurance athlete
Jonas Dünzel (born 1994), German politician
Jonas Eriksson, several people
Jonas Folger, German motorbike racer
Jonas Galusha, American politician and 5th governor of Vermont
Jonas Gardell, Swedish writer and comedian
Jonas Gelsen, German rower
Jonas Green, Colonial American newspaper publisher
Jonas C. Greenfield, American scholar of Semitic languages
Jonas Griffith (born 1997), American football player
Jonas Grof, German basketball player
Jonas Gunnarsson, several people
Jonas Gustavsson, NHL goaltender
Jonás Gutiérrez, Argentine footballer
Jonas Haggren, Swedish Navy rear admiral
Jónas Hallgrímsson, Icelandic poet, author and naturalist
Jonas Hector, German footballer
Jonas Hellborg, Swedish bass player
Jonas Hiller, Swiss NHL goaltender
Jonas Hjort, economist
Jonas Höglund, NHL hockey player
Jonas H. Ingram (1886–1952), US Navy admiral and Medal of Honor recipient
Jonas Ivanauskas (born 1960), Lithuanian priest
Jonas Ivens (born 1984), Belgian footballer
Jonas Jablonskis (1860–1930), Lithuanian linguist
Jonas Jacobsson (born 1965), Swedish Paralympic sport shooter
Jonas Jakimavičius (1889–1945), Lithuanian politician
Jonas Jaknavičius (1589–1668), Lithuanian lexicographer
Jonas Jansen (1900–1975), Norwegian archivist
Jonas Jarutis (born 1963), Lithuanian politician
Jonas Jeberg (born 1975), Danish songwriter and music producer
Jonas Jennings (born 1977), American football player and coach
Jonas Jensen-Abbew (born 2002), Danish footballer
Jonas Jensen (born 1985), Danish footballer
Jonas Jeppesen (born 1998), Danish speedway rider
Jonas Jerebko (born 1987), Swedish basketball player
Jonas af Jochnick (1937–2019), Swedish businessman
Jonas Johansen (born 1985), Norwegian footballer
Jonas Johansson (ice hockey, born 1982), Swedish ice hockey player
Jonas Johansson (ice hockey, born 1984), Swedish ice hockey player
Jonas Johansson (ice hockey, born 1995), Swedish ice hockey player
Jonas Johnson (born 1970), Swedish ice hockey player
Jonas Jonas (born 1993), Namibian boxer
Jonas Jonasson (born 1961), Swedish journalist and writer
Jonas Jones (1791–1848), Canadian politician
Jonas Jonsson (19th-century builder) (1806–1885), Swedish architect
Jonas Jonsson (footballer) (born 1975), Swedish footballer
Jonas Jonsson (sailor) (1873–1926), Swedish sailor
Jonas Jonsson (sport shooter) (1903–1996), Swedish sport shooter
Jonas Aaen Jørgensen (born 1986), Danish racing cyclist
Jonas Junkka (born 1975), Swedish ice hockey player
Jonas Junland (born 1987), Swedish ice hockey player
Jonas Juška (1815–1886), Lithuanian teacher and linguist
Jonas Kaufmann, German opera singer
Jonas Kyratzes, writer and game designer
Jonas Lund, Swedish conceptual artist
Jonas Lüscher, Swiss-German writer and essayist
Jonas Mačiulis, a Lithuanian basketball player
Jonas Mekas, Lithuanian film maker
Jonas Millard (born 1981), Swedish politician
Jonas of Orléans (760–841), Bishop of Orléans
Jonas Gonçalves Oliveira, Brazilian international footballer
Jonas Pangonis (born 1950), Lithuanian politician
Jonas Parello-Plesner (born 1973), Danish foreign policy analyst
Jonas Pate (born 1970), American writer & director
Jonas Paukštė (born 2000), Lithuanian basketball player
Jonas Paulavičius (1898–1952), Lithuanian carpenter
Jonas Pedersen (1871–1953), Norwegian politician
Jonas Pelgander (born 1975), Swedish footballer
Jonas Persson (cyclist) (1913–1986), Swedish cyclist
Jonas Persson (football executive), Swedish businessman and football executive
Jonas Persson (handballer) (born 1969), Swedish handball player
Jonas Persson (swimmer) (born 1983), Swedish swimmer
Jonas C. Peters (born 1971), American inorganic chemist
Jonas Phijffers (born 2003), Dutch athlete
Jonas Phillips (1736–1803), American merchant
Jonas B. Phillips (1805–1869), American attorney
Jonas P. Phoenix (1788–1859), American politician
Jonas Pierre (born 1980), American basketball player
Jonas Pilling (1855–1926), British vicar
Jonas Pinskus (born 1959), Lithuanian rower
Jonas Pipynė (1935–1997), Lithuanian Olympic runner
Jonas Plass (born 1986), German sprinter
Jonas Platt (1769–1834), American politician
Jonas M. Platt (1919–2000), U.S. Marine Corps major general
Jonas Pleškys (1935–1993), Soviet naval commander
Jonas Pohlmann (born 1996), German politician
Jonas Poole (1566–1612), English explorer and sealer
Jonas Portin (born 1986), Finnish footballer
Jonas Kældsø Poulsen (born 1985), Danish windsurfer
Jonas Prapiestis (born 1952), Lithuanian politician
Jonas Prising (born 1965), CEO
Jonas Proast (1640–1710), English priest and academic
Jonas Profit, English mariner and explorer
Jonas Puzinas (1905–1978), Lithuanian archaeologist
Jonás Ramalho, Spanish-Angolan footballer
Jonas Reckermann, German beach volleyball player
Jonas Renkse, Singer of Swedish band Katatonia
Jonas Sakuwaha (born 1983), Zambian footballer
Jonas Salk (1914–1995), American inventor of the polio vaccine
Jonas Salley (born 1982), Ivorian-Australian soccer player
Jonas Salsicha (born 1994), Brazilian professional kickboxer
Jonas Samuelsson (born 1991), Swedish handball player
Jonas Sandell (born 1995), Swedish ski jumper
Jonas Sandqvist (born 1981), Swedish former professional footballer
Jonas Sanker (born 2002), American football player
Jonas Savimbi (1934–2002), Angolan politician and rebel leader
Jonas Andersen Sayed (born 1997), Norwegian politician
Jonas Schmidt-Chanasit (born 1979), German virologist
Jonas Schmidt (born 1973), Danish self-taught actor and comedian
Jonas Scholz (born 1999), German footballer
Jonas Schomburg (born 1994), German triathlete
Jonas Schön (born 1969), Swedish speed skater
Jonas Schützeberg (born 1984), German lightweight rower
Jonas Seawright (born 1982), American football player
Jonas Seifert-Salk (born 2000), Danish speedway rider
Jonas Sela (born 1984), German footballer
Jonas Semaška (1907–1947), Lithuanian partisan leader
Jonas Sibanyoni (born 1952), South African politician and lawyer
Jonas Sibley (1762–1834), American politician
Jonas Siegenthaler (born 1997), Swiss ice hockey player
Jonas Sima (born 1937), Swedish writer
Jonas Sjölander (born 1965), Swedish male curler
Jonas Sjöstedt (born 1964), Swedish politician
Jonas Howden Sjøvaag (born 1978), Norwegian jazz drummer
Jonas Slier (1886–1942), Dutch artistic gymnast
Jonas Smalakys (1835–1901), Prussian Lithuanian landowner and soldier
Jonas Smilgevičius (1870–1942), Lithuanian economist and politician
Jonas Smulders (born 1994), Dutch film and television actor
Jonas Snäckmark (born 1986), Swedish metal singer
Jonas Söderlund (born 1971), Swedish organizational theorist
Jonas Sonnenberg (born 1993), German association football player
Jonas Sparring (born 1988), Swedish ice hockey player
Jonas Staal (born 1981), Dutch artist
Jonas Stafford (born 2005), Irish athlete
Jonas Stark (born 1972), Swedish footballer
Jonas Stark (pianist) (born 1998), German pianist
Jonas Staugaitis (1868–1952), Lithuanian politician
Jonas Van de Steene (born 1987), Belgian para-cyclist
Jonas Steponavičius (1880–1947), Lithuanian Roman Catholic priest
Jonas Sterner (born 2002), German footballer
Jonas Steur (born 1982), Belgian trance DJ and producer
Jonas Rimantas Stonis (born 1958), Soft redirect to Wikispecies
Jonas Gahr Støre (born 1960), Prime Minister of Norway since 2021
Jonas Henry Støre (1888–1974), Norwegian business executive
Jonas Strifler (born 1990), German footballer
Jonas Strömberg (born 2001), American handball player
Jonas Struß (born 1997), German footballer
Jonas Sultan (born 1991), Filipino boxer
Jonas Sulzbach (born 1986), Brazilian model
Jonas Erikson Sundahl (1678–1762), Swedish architect
Jonas Suyderhoef (1613–1686), Dutch Golden Age engraver
Jonas Svensson (bandy) (born 1983), Swedish bandy player
Jonas Svensson (footballer) (born 1993), Norwegian footballer
Jonas Svensson (tennis) (born 1966), Swedish tennis player
Jonas Swenholt (1855–1923), American politician
Jonas Swensson (1828–1873), American Lutheran clergyman
Jonas March Tebbetts (1820–1913), American politician
Jonas Tomalty, Canadian rock musician from Montréal
Jonas Torsvik (born 2005), Norwegian footballer
Jonas Vaitkus, lecturer and film director in Lithuania
Jonas Valančiūnas (born 1992), Lithuanian basketball player
Jonas Vileišis, Lithuanian lawyer, politician, and diplomat
Jonas Vingegaard, Danish cyclist
Jonas Wikman, Swedish officer
Jonas Wikström, Swedish Navy officer
Jonas Williams (born 2008), American football player
Jonas Wind, Danish footballer
Jonas Wohlfarth-Bottermann (born 1990), German basketball player
Jhonas Enroth, Swedish ice hockey player
George Jonas (1935–2016), Canadian-Hungarian writer
George E. Jonas (1897–1978), American businessman
Gilbert Jonas (1930–2006), American activist
Glenn Jonas (born 1970), New Zealand cricketer
Hans Jonas, philosopher
Harry Jonas, international lawyer
Howard Jonas, businessman
Israel Heymann Jonas (1795–1851), German malacologist
Joan Jonas, artist
John Jonas, metallurgist
Johnny Jonas, British painter
Joseph Jonas (disambiguation), several people, including
Joseph Jonas (1845–1921), German-born Lord Mayor of Sheffield
Justina Jonas, Namibia politician
Justus Jonas, Protestant reformer
Kevin Jonas, musician, member of Jonas Brothers
Lihen Jonas, Micronesian sprinter
Louis Paul Jonas, sculptor, museum exhibit designer, taxidermist
Margarete Jonas (1898–1976), First Lady of Austria
Maria Jonas (1957–2024), German opera singer
Marie Jonas (1893–1944), German physician and Holocaust victim
Mark Jonas (born 1974), American soccer player and coach
Maryla Jonas (1911–1959), Polish musician
Mcebisi Jonas (born 1960), South African politician and businessman
Milton Jonas (1926–2006), American politician
Natasha Jonas, boxer
Nathan S. Jonas (1868–1943), American banker and philanthropist
Nick Jonas, musician, member of Jonas Brothers
Peter Jonas (director) (1946–2020), British arts administrator
Peter Jonas (figure skater) (born 1941), Austrian figure skater
Peter Jonas (footballer) (born 1959), Australian rules footballer
Priyanka Jonas, Indian actress, model and film producer
Regina Jonas (1902–1944), First woman to be ordained as a rabbi
Roberto Jonas (born 1967), Andorran footballer
Shadreck Jonas, Malawian politician
Siphokazi Jonas, South African poet
Tiago Jonas (born 1983), Portuguese footballer
Tina W. Jonas, American undersecretary of defense
Tom Jonas (born 1991), Australian rules footballer