Jonathan

¹ American  

[jon-uh-thuhn] / ˈdʒɒn ə θən /

noun

1. a variety of red apple that matures in early autumn.

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Jonathan ² American  

[jon-uh-thuhn] / ˈdʒɒn ə θən /

noun

1. (in the Bible) a son of Saul and friend of David.

2. Archaic. an American, especially a New Englander.

3. a male given name: from a Hebrew word meaning “God gave.”

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Jonathan ¹ British  

/ ˈdʒɒnəθən /

noun

1. a variety of red apple that ripens in early autumn

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Jonathan ² British  

noun

1. Old Testament the son of Saul and David's close friend, who was killed in battle (I Samuel 31; II Samuel 1:19–26)

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Etymology

Origin of Jonathan

First recorded in 1875–80; named after Jonathan Hasbrouck (died 1846), American jurist

Example Sentences

Brainerd’s journals, guided into print by his father-in-law, Jonathan Edwards, later inspired many Protestants either to become missionaries or to support mission agencies.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 19, 2026

“I think the town cryers of private-credit doom are going to be disappointed,” Blackstone President Jonathan Gray said at a conference this month.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 18, 2026

Quill & Arrow was founded in 2019 by attorneys Kevin Jacobson and Jonathan Shirian, according to the firm’s website, which touts recovering $500 million in lemon law payouts.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 18, 2026

But the founder’s son, Jonathan Goodman, began selling off non-mining divisions after he became CEO in 2018.

From Barron's • Jun. 17, 2026

Jonathan did some knee bends and thought about how vacations used to be.

From "Earthquake Terror" by Peg Kehret