Jonathan

Jonathan was given to me in secret.

My parents wanted me to be named after no one in my family; they wanted me to have my own identity. They kept the name a secret until I was born so no one could steal the name or take credit for the namesake. Two days before my father was born, his cousin came into the world, and the name Joe was stolen from him. My grandma, needing a new name fast, landed quickly on David, a popular choice at the time. My parents wanted to avoid such a fiasco. I was born far apart from any cousins, and my name was distinct from all others in my family. David’s best biblical friend was Jonathan. When my dad landed on the name in a baby name book my mom said, “that’s perfect.” 

Jonathan means God has given (Azzollini). It stood out as the perfect name to my parents as their dream was to raise a child. They had known for years that they wanted to provide the best life they could for another. Their dream came true in a hospital in 2004, and they never looked back.

My mother’s name has been misspelled countless times throughout her life. She spelled Elisabeth with an s in a world where z reigns supreme. She didn’t want that for me, and insisted on the common English spelling of Jonathan. At the time, Jonathan was the 21st most popular male name, and the spelling should have been commonplace (Social Security Administration). The brutal irony is that Jonathan is a chronically misspelled name. Different languages spell it Yehonatan, Jonatan, and Johnathan (Azzollini). In addition to this, there are egregious spellings of my name. I’ve encountered “Johnothan” and “Johnathin”, on receipts, and been addressed Jonathon and Johnathon programs and rosters. Despite this, I haven't met any person with a different spelling for Jonathan. Friendships have sprouted between us Jonathans over this common problem.

Despite this, Jonathan isn’t at all bad. It is like a collection of shoes for any occasion, and can match every outfit perfectly through its nicknames. When it becomes Jon, it turns into work shoes, a convenient choice for professional circumstances, when efficiency is necessary.. When it turns into Jonster, I have a pair of street shoes, perfect for casual wear with friends. Jonathan is reserved for formal occasions, as it carries the professional class of dress shoes. It represents me in applications and on lists. Even then, Jonathan isn’t limited to these three options. Countless other permutations exist. Jonny, Joe Nathan, JT and countless others give me a packed shoe rack and cover all circumstances. 

Jonathan has done a great job at framing my life, while giving me room to be myself. It gives me uniqueness in my family, solidarity in mutual struggle, and is tailored to fit every occasion. I can’t imagine having a better name. 

“Popular Names In 2004” Social Security Administration, 2023, Popular Baby Names (ssa.gov) Accessed Sep 21, 2023

Azzollini, Mina. “Jonathan Name Meaning” VeryWell Family, 2021

Jonathan: Name Meaning, Origin, Popularity (verywellfamily.com) Accessed Sep 21, 2023