Jonah

Dove

Jonah means “dove” and comes from Hebrew. The bird gives the name a delicate natural image; “bringer of peace” is a symbolic reading, rather than a literal translation. Its soft ending suits that image. The name also carries a vivid biblical story. In the Book of Jonah, the prophet is swallowed by a large fish. That narrative connection gives a short, unassuming name considerable depth for readers who value biblical tradition. English Jonah sounds like JOE-nuh: the opening is stressed and the final h is silent. Jonas is a related form, used in several languages, rather than just a longer pronunciation of Jonah. Jonah’s appeal can lie in this balance: a name with a substantial story, yet a light, uncluttered sound. The final vowel leaves it feeling more open than a name with a firm consonant ending.

Etymology: From Hebrew יוֹנָה (Yona), a personal name formed from the word for a dove. Jonah is the English biblical form.