Meaning: Its source is Yehonatan, a Hebrew name meaning "Gift of God."

Popularity: The name Jonathon ranked 261st in popularity for males of all ages in a sample of 2000-2003 Social Security Administration statistics and 369th in popularity for males of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

Though this name has fluctuated in use, it has been quietly present throughout the last century.

Narrative: In the Jewish scriptures, Jonathan was a young man caught between loyalty to his friend and the duty he owed his father. His friend was David, slayer of Goliath. His father, King Saul, was increasingly jealous of David's popularity with the Jewish people.

Jonathan chose friendship. When he learned that Saul planned to have David killed, he risked his own safety to warn him. Yet he did not forsake his father. In fact, he died fighting beside Saul in a terrible battle.

Jonathan and David's friendship (like that of the Greek-Syracusan friends Damon and Pythias) has come down through the ages as a symbol of brotherly devotion.