Nicknames for Jonathan

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Jonathan may have peaked in 1985, but at #42 on the popularity charts, it's safe to say he's still going strong. He's a modern classic, which is appealing to many parents. However, sometimes Jonathan needs a nickname. Whether he's a junior or you just want options, there are plenty of nicknames to choose from.

Jack--Jack is a common diminutive of John, so he makes perfect sense as a nickname for Jonathan. Jack is an every-boy name, but beware--he's popular on his own and as a nickname, so there are more Jacks out there than the data suggests.

John or Jon--You can't beat a classic. Jon is the easiest nickname for Jonathan, and has a standard, sturdy feel.

Johnny--Johnny is definitely dated, but stands at a solid #266 in the top 1000. He is a retro pick that is ripe for revival, along with brothers Billy, Jimmy, and Eddie.

Nat--Nat may be concise, but he sure is suave. If you're looking for an unexpected, classy nickname for Jonathan, Nat's your man.

Nate--Nate is an extremely popular nickname, especially where I live. He can be used as a nickname for Nathaniel or Nathan, but is more surprising when used for Jonathan.

Nathan--Nathan is not often used as a nickname for Jonathan, mostly because he's a popular name in his own right. At #31, he's even more popular than Jonathan. That doesn't mean you can't use him in this way--in fact, it's a great option if you love both Nathan and Jonathan.

Natty--Natty absolutely has a younger feel to him, but sometimes parents are only looking for a young childhood nickname. He's cute, spunky, and upbeat. If he did want to wear the nickname into adulthood, it wouldn't be that big of a deal. I know a Natty, and I don't find his name startling at all.

Than--Than is my favorite of this list. He's modern, sleek, and extremely rare. Than is the most unique nickname for Jonathan, and would age nicely.

Names With the -ara Sound

When you think of names with the -ara sound at the end, your first thought will most likely be Sarah. She was in the top ten, from '78 to '02. Like me, you probably know many Sarahs of all ages. Here are some other less popular -ara sounding names

Ara- This Arabic name is just okay to me.
Cara- I like this name, but it reminds me too much of Jon and Kate plus 8.
Clara- I really like this name. It's very beautiful, and it means bright.
Farrah- I don't like this name at all. It sounds very stuck-up to me.
Kara- Another form of Cara. I don't like this spelling as much.
Tamara- It sounds very 70's to me, probably because she would have the nickname Tammy.
Tara- I don't mind this one. Tara is one of the better ones on this list.
Vara/Vera- I like it pronounced VEAR-uh, but not VARE-uh.