Jonathan

Traditionally understood as ‘Yahweh has given’ (a theophoric Hebrew name).

Jonathan is a classic male given name with strong roots in Hebrew and biblical tradition. In the Hebrew Bible, Jonathan is a prominent figure, and that long-standing religious and literary presence is a major reason the name has remained widely used across many cultures and languages. In meaning and etymology, Jonathan is one of the clearer cases: it is traditionally analyzed as a theophoric Hebrew name combining a reference to Yahweh with a verb meaning “has given.” That interpretation is widely repeated in standard references, and it explains why the name is often summarized as “Yahweh has given.” Pronunciation in English is typically JON-uh-thun, three syllables with stress on the first. A practical note is that it’s extremely nickname-friendly (Jon, Johnny), and that spelling variants like Jonathon appear, though Jonathan remains the most common form.

Etymology: From a Hebrew name commonly analyzed as elements meaning ‘Yahweh’ and ‘has given’; widely known through biblical tradition.