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

Comedian Tom Walker, who portrays the fictional journalist Jonathan Pie, said the government needs to recognise comedy "as an important cultural thing from grassroots to sitcoms on the BBC".

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

Jonathan Cofsky, portfolio manager at Janus Henderson Investors, offers another option if investors don’t want to buy stocks that might have lower-than-usual valuations but are spending heavy amounts of free cash flow.

From Barron's • Apr. 4, 2026

Jonathan Thomas, company director of Thomas estate agents, said the housing market in Wales "flipped" after the Covid pandemic as people started working from home.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

“It’s a minefield for insurers,” said Jonathan Moss, head of the London office for law firm DWF.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

Jonathan dropped, unresisting, toward the bottom of the river.

From "Earthquake Terror" by Peg Kehret