Jonah- does it mean bad luck to you?

[VickyHart]

Hi, I just wanted to try out another name on you wonderful people- due tomorrow and still thinking!

Dh and I really like Jonah, but when looking into it realise that it is sometimes associated with meaning 'bad luck' (in Shipping terms, related to Jonah and the whale...)

One family member picked up on Jonah as meaning bad luck already. Should that bother me do you think, or has anyone even heard of this?

Thank you

[Mammina]

I love it and wouldn't ever think it meant bad luck, but then I'm no fisherman

good luck by theway

[Northernlurker]

I think Jonah is a lovely name and an admirable biblical character. As told in the book of Jonah, at first he runs away from what God wants him to do - so a big storm is sent by God and the sailors draw lots with everyone on the boat to find out who is the 'unlucky' one who has bought this disaster on them. Jonah gets the short straw and confesses that he knows he is running away from his mission from God. He insists the sailors throw him overboard - despite their protestations.

A whale (or big fish depending on your translation) then is sent by God to rescue him and meanwhile the sailors return to port praising the God of Jonah.

So you could say he isn't actually unlucky at all - but rather a blessing to the sailors and the recipiant of God's grace-albeit in cetacean form!

[VickyHart]

Thank you both so much.
Northernlurker, I really appreciate you sharing the story of Jonah and I love that we can think of him as a blessing.

[WobblyPig]

Yes, means badluck to me. I personally would avoid it out of ridiculous superstition.

[Northernlurker]

(dh helped me - he's a much better biblical scholar than me!)

[BikeRunSki]

I know a very very sweet 10 year old Jonah, so it has very positive associations for me, despite Catholic schooling!

[Tortington]

no - i love it

[Ondine]

I immediately think of bad luck and someone who is jinxed. I have only recently heard someone described as being a ?Jonah? with reference to things always going wrong when they are around.

I think it's a really negative name for a child to be honest.

[diddl]

I like it.
Not a fisherman, but have heard the expression "a Jonah"-someone who brings bad luck.
Jonas?

[Bellsa]

I think of a song I learnt at school, and Jonah and the whale, but not in a negative way. I think he's a positive figure in the bible, as Northernlurker says.

[VickyHart]

Thanks everyone. I love the positive associations that Northernlurker suggested but I think that if I'm worried about the bad luck link now perhaps I should just avoid it.
Oh I don't know. I'm due today and going stir crazy, I appreciate you all thinking with me!

[JRocks]

I don't think it's negative, but I prefer Jonas

[loobylu3]

No- dosen't mean bad luck to me either. I like Jonah a lot. Good luck with your new baby!

[thell]

I think it's only specifically bad luck for sailors.
So it will be fine - as long as he doesn't want to join the navy!!

I know a little one, and it's a lovely name.

[singersgirl]

Means 'bad luck' to me as well. I also think of it meaning someone who moans a lot, but perhaps that's just a rhyming association (moaner/Jonah) and the bad luck thing. I think it's a nice sounding name, though. How about Jonas or Josiah any good?

[Tortington]

reminds me of guitar hero song

my name is Jonah - tiz the only one i can play cos i iz pants innit

[HigherThanAWombat]

No. I really love it.

[MogTheForgetfulCat]

Not to me - does to DH, though. I tried to persuade him with both DSs, and he wouldn't budge

Probably wouldn't use it now, as DS2 is Isaac, and would probably sound a bit too biblical...

A friend of mine has a dinky Jonah, and a fab t-shirt (Boden, I believe ) with an applique whale on it!