Jonathan in Chinese
Jonathan in Chinese is 乔纳森 (Qiáo Nà Sēn).
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Meaning
- gift of God
Etymologically, Jonathan is Hebrew and is commonly glossed as "gift of God". It has been in continuous US use since Social Security records begin in 1880, peaking in the 1980s. Spellings pronounced the same way include Johnathan, Jonathon, which share the transliteration 乔纳森.
3 ways to write Jonathan
phonetic
Following the sound of your name
乔纳森
Qiáo Nà Sēn
The standard transliteration of Jonathan: 乔 (qiáo, "tall, lofty"), 纳 (nà, "to accept, receive"), 森 (sēn, "forest; lush"). Chosen for sound, it is instantly recognizable as this name.
Why these characters?
Each character maps to one sound of the English name: 乔 (qiáo) carries "jo", 纳 (nà) carries "na", 森 (sēn) carries "than". The tone contour is 2-4-1 (rising, falling, high level).
Character breakdown
25 strokes total (simplified)- 乔
qiáo
Tone 2 · 6 strokes (simplified)
tall, lofty
- 纳
nà
Tone 4 · 7 strokes (simplified)
to accept, receive
- 森
sēn
Tone 1 · 12 strokes (simplified)
forest; lush
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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meaningful
Chosen for meaning and association
嘉乐
Jiā Lè
Inspired by "gift of God": 嘉 (jiā, "excellent, praiseworthy") + 乐 (lè, "joy, happiness; music"), expressing love, joy and blessings.
Why these characters?
Because Jonathan is linked to "gift", the name leads with 嘉 (excellent, praiseworthy); 乐 (joy, happiness; music) gives it a natural given-name finish.
Character breakdown
19 strokes total (simplified)- 嘉
jiā
Tone 1 · 14 strokes (simplified)
excellent, praiseworthy
- 乐
lè
Tone 4 · 5 strokes (simplified)
joy, happiness; music
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Stroke order
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balanced
A balance of sound and meaning
乔乐
Qiáo Lè
乔 (qiáo, "tall, lofty") + 乐 (lè, "joy, happiness; music"): echoes the sound of the English name while carrying meaning.
Why these characters?
It keeps 乔 (qiáo), the same opening character as the transliteration 乔纳森, for the "jo" sound, and replaces the rest with 乐 ("joy, happiness; music") so the whole reads as a real given name.
Character breakdown
11 strokes total (simplified)- 乔
qiáo
Tone 2 · 6 strokes (simplified)
tall, lofty
- 乐
lè
Tone 4 · 5 strokes (simplified)
joy, happiness; music
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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Recent US usage of Jonathan
In the Social Security Administration’s 2020–2025 snapshot, Jonathan ranked 79 among names recorded for boys, with 25,386 registrations in that group across the period. These are US birth-name records, rather than search counts or a ranking of Chinese names. The period covers part of a decade; it is not a final ranking for the whole 2020s.
Compare the dated figures in the SSA’s official 2020s name table. This snapshot was checked on 2026-10-15; any historical figures on this page describe their own stated period.
Popularity in the US
US Social Security records show 833,875 boys named Jonathan since 1880, with the high point in 1988 (24,346 births) and the busiest decade being the 1980s. Between 1990 and 2017 it slipped, from #17 to #55 among boys.
- Peak year
- 1988
- Peak decade
- 1980s
- First year
- 1880
- Total since 1880
- 833,875
More About Jonathan in Chinese
The Chinese translation of Jonathan offers multiple styles to suit different preferences. Whether you prefer a phonetic transliteration that sounds like your name, or a meaningful interpretation that captures the essence of Jonathan, you'll find options that work for you.
Jonathan is also spelled Johnathan and Jonathon — all spellings share the same Chinese characters.
Names with the same root meaning include Matthew in Chinese, Nathaniel in Chinese, Theodore in Chinese, and Mathew in Chinese, which share similar origins or meanings.
If you're exploring Chinese names for boys, you might also be interested in Johnathan in Chinese, Jonathon in Chinese, and Matthew in Chinese. Each name has its own unique character combinations and meanings.
Other popular choices include Nathaniel in Chinese, Theodore in Chinese, Mathew in Chinese, Nicholas in Chinese, and Anthony in Chinese, each with beautiful traditional and simplified character options.
When choosing Chinese characters for Jonathan, consider whether you want:
- Phonetic accuracy: Characters that sound like Jonathan to native Chinese speakers
- Meaningful symbolism: Characters chosen for their beautiful meanings and cultural significance
- Balanced approach: A combination of sound and meaning that works well in both languages
Browse our complete A-Z index of Chinese names to explore more options, or start with our curated list of popular names in Chinese to see what others are choosing.
Frequently asked questions
How do you write Jonathan in Chinese?
乔纳森 (Qiáo Nà Sēn), or 喬納森 in traditional script. This is the conventional transliteration used in Chinese media.
How popular is the name Jonathan?
US Social Security records show 833,875 boys named Jonathan since 1880, with the high point in 1988 (24,346 births) and the busiest decade being the 1980s. Between 1990 and 2017 it slipped, from #17 to #55 among boys.
Do Jonathan and Johnathan have the same Chinese name?
Yes. Both are written 乔纳森, because Chinese transliteration follows pronunciation rather than English spelling.