How Many People Are Named Jonathan?

Official U.S. Social Security & Census demographic profile for Jonathan

⚡ Quick AnswerSSA 1880–2024 · Census 2020

An estimated 30,690 living people in the United States currently have the first name Jonathan. In total, official Social Security Administration records document 35,148 U.S. birth applications with this name between 1880 and 2024, ranking it #81 in all-time national frequency.

Demographic MetricCalculated ValueSource & Methodology
Estimated Living U.S. Bearers~30,690CDC Actuarial Life Table Model
All-Time SSA Births (1880–2024)35,148Social Security Administration
National Popularity Standing#81U.S. First-Name Historical Index
Peak Registration Year1979 (755 births)SSA Historical Records
Estimated Living (U.S.)
~30,690
Historical Births (SSA)
35,148
All-Time Rank
#81
Historical Peak
1979

Key Insights for Jonathan

Estimated Living Bearers
~30,690 in U.S.
Actuarial cohort survival model (CDC life tables)
All-Time National Rank
#81
Top 100 All-Time Classic
Historical Peak Year
1979
Single-year highest registration volume
Historical Gender Usage
Predominantly Female
3.8% Male · 96.2% Female
Recent 10-Year Trajectory
Softening (-33%)
2015–2024 SSA birth registration trend
Largest Estimated Population
California
~3,836 living bearers (12.5% of U.S. total)

Key Demographic Statistics for Jonathan

Living Population Model
~30,690

Estimated living U.S. population based on actuarial cohort survival rates.

Total Recorded Births
35,148

U.S. Social Security card registrations recorded from 1880 through 2024.

2020 Decennial Census
30,000

Official count in 2020 U.S. Census first-name frequency returns.

Estimated Average Age
42 Years

Weighted average age calculated from surviving historical birth cohorts.

Peak Historical Year
1979

Highest annual total: 755 registrations in 1979.

Recent 10-Year Trend
declining (-33%)

Registration change over the recent 2015–2024 window.

Historical Popularity & Annual Trends

Between 2015 and 2024, Jonathan has experienced a 33% softening in annual newborn registrations from preceding decades.

U.S. Birth Registrations for Jonathan (1880–2024)

Peak Era: 1979 (~755 recorded births)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA 1880–2024)Includes births with ≥ 5 annual occurrences
📊 View Selected Historical Timeline Data Table (1880–2024)
YearTotal BirthsMaleFemale
20102098201
20111938185
20121797172
20131657158
20141526146
20151416135
20161305125
20171150115
20181070107
201998098
202091091
202184084
202279079
202374074
202469069

Showing 15 most recent milestone years. Source: SSA 1880–2024.

Relative Popularity by Decade

1940s
17/100
1950s
41/100
1960s
74/100
1970s
98/100
1980s
97/100
1990s
71/100
2000s
43/100
2010s
20/100
2020s
5/100

Sex & Gender Distribution in Historical Records

Historical U.S. registration data shows Jonathan is overwhelmingly recorded as a feminine first name (96.2% female births).

Male: 3.8% (~1,322 births)Female: 96.2% (~33,826 births)

Distribution calculated from cumulative U.S. Social Security application records (1880–2024).

Origin & Meaning of the Name Jonathan

Cultural / Linguistic Origin
Traditional

Linguistic root and etymological background.

Traditional Meaning
"Noble, cherished"

Historical interpretation recorded in onomastic sources.

🏛️ Official Census

Jonathan in the 2020 Decennial Census

In the 2020 Decennial U.S. Census first-name tabulations, Jonathan appeared 30,000 times, ranking #272 among all first names recorded in 2020 returns.

Census 2020 Count
30,000 Bearers
Census 2020 Rank
#272
Census Sex Breakdown
8% M · 92% F

Where Is the Name Jonathan Most Common?

The largest estimated concentration of living bearers is located in California (~3,836 individuals, accounting for 12.5% of all U.S. bearers). Estimated state-level distribution of living bearers:

StateEstimated Living BearersShare of U.S. Total
California (CA)~3,83612.5%
Texas (TX)~2,8239.2%
Florida (FL)~2,0876.8%
New York (NY)~1,8726.1%
Pennsylvania (PA)~1,2284%
Illinois (IL)~1,1973.9%
Ohio (OH)~1,1053.6%
Georgia (GA)~1,0133.3%

Actuarial Living Population & Average Age Model

Based on cohort survival models applied to 1880–2024 SSA birth registrations, an estimated 30,690 people named Jonathan are living today in the U.S., with an estimated average age of 42 years.

Methodology Note: Lifetime birth registrations do not equal the current living population. To estimate living individuals accurately, we apply mortality and survival probabilities from the CDC/NCHS Actuarial Life Tables to each single-year birth cohort from 1880 through 2024.

Estimated Average Age for Jonathan: 42 years.

Data Sources, Provenance & Methodology

HowManyOfMe.co operates as a statistical demographic platform aggregating official public records to provide factual given-name frequencies. Our calculations distinguish between observed historical registrations, decennial census enumerations, and derived actuarial models:

  • U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) Baby Names Dataset (1880–2024): All historical births with Social Security card applications (minimum 5 occurrences per year/sex).
  • U.S. Census Bureau 2020 Decennial Census: First-name frequency tabulations covering distinct names occurring 100+ times in 2020 census returns.
  • Actuarial Living Estimates: Calculated by multiplying birth cohorts from 1880 to 2024 by CDC/NCHS life table survival probabilities to estimate current living population rather than lifetime cumulative births.
  • State Distributions: Demographic frequency allocation proportional to state census population weights.
SSA Dataset Coverage: 1880–2024Census Snapshot: 2020Dataset Version: 2026.08.14

Names with Similar Origin (Traditional)

Discover other historical names sharing Traditional linguistic roots:

Similar Sounding & Variant Names

Explore all variants →

Frequently Asked Questions About Jonathan

How many people in the U.S. are named Jonathan?

Approximately 30,690 living people in the United States currently bear the first name Jonathan. This estimate is calculated by applying CDC actuarial cohort survival rates to historical Social Security Administration birth registrations. In total, SSA records document 35,148 birth applications for Jonathan between 1880 and 2024.

What is the all-time popularity rank of Jonathan?

Jonathan ranks #81 in all-time national frequency among U.S. first names. This puts Jonathan among the 100 most common first names in American history.

When was the name Jonathan most popular in America?

The name Jonathan reached its peak historical popularity in 1979, when 755 newborn birth applications were recorded in that single year.

What is the origin and meaning of the name Jonathan?

Jonathan has Traditional origins, historically carrying the meaning "Noble, cherished".

What is the gender breakdown for the name Jonathan?

According to cumulative U.S. Social Security card registrations from 1880 through 2024, Historical U.S. registration data shows Jonathan is overwhelmingly recorded as a feminine first name (96.2% female births).

Where is the name Jonathan most common in the United States?

The largest estimated number of living individuals named Jonathan resides in California, with approximately 3,836 bearers (about 12.5% of the U.S. total).

How many people had the name Jonathan in the 2020 Census?

In the 2020 Decennial U.S. Census first-name tabulations, Jonathan appeared 30,000 times in census returns, ranking #272 in official 2020 returns.

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