Jonah
Actor Jonah Hill was born on December 20, 1983 in Los Angeles. Jonah is famous for his comedic roles in films like Superbad and 21 Jump Street, and received Academy nominations for his roles in Moneyball and The Wolf of Wall Street.
The most recognizable Jonah is of course the Biblical prophet — famously swallowed by a whale in retribution for ignoring God’s calling. In Judaism, the story of Jonah represents teshuva — the ability to repent to God for forgiveness.
The Hebrew name Jonah means “dove” — a universal symbol of peace, freedom, and love — all lovely virtues to bestow upon a child.
The early 2000s brought a new wave of Biblical boy names, combining soft sounds with deep roots (think Noah, Elijah, Josiah, and Isaiah). This generation of names are now losing some of their noveau spark for parents who want a name that doesn’t feel overdone.
Jonah has all of these qualities without the exploding popularity — it sits at #135 today and has remained steady in popularity for nearly two decades.
Jonas is an equally appealing variation with Greek roots, while Yona and Yonah are unisex variations in Hebrew.