Jonas is the Greek and Latin form of Jonah, the Hebrew name that means "dove", after the prophet swallowed by a great fish. Jonas Salk, who developed the polio vaccine, is its most famous American bearer, and the pop band the Jonas Brothers gave it a burst of attention in the late 2000s. Jonas ranked number 511 in 2000, peaked at number 274 in 2008 and has settled at number 599 in 2025.