Jonah- would the unlucky thing bother you?

[CultureAlienationBoredomandDespair]

I love the name but am not sure if I can get over the unlucky association (although I think surviving being eaten by a whale is pretty lucky!).

I think it’s probably an older generation thing but I distinctly remember my nan calling people ‘Jonahs’ if she though they attracted bad luck and I’m sure DM would pass comment too.

Am I overthinking it or is this still very much a connection people will make?

Never heard that one before. I think it's a lovely name.

I would think of the bad luck thing.

There are three Jonah's in my childs secondary school, it's becoming quite popular as an alternative to the usual Noah which was popular a few years back.

This sounds pretty specific to your family. There's a couple of Jonah's in my daughters school year. I didn't know about it being unlucky. Only very religious people would know the story wouldn't they?

I am biased because I have a Jonah and think it is the most beautiful name in the world. I think you’re right that it’s a generational comment about it being unlucky. Some very removed family members made a horrible comment about this to me once and I was quite annoyed. But that is literally the only negative comment I’ve ever had. All other comments are about how lovely a name it is.

My family aren’t remotely religious but DH’s are. I thought it was widespread but am really not sure.

I would think of the Beano character, but kids his age wouldn't know it so it wouldn't be a problem except maybe for older relatives. Wikipedia says the comic was last published in 2014.

I think it's only unlucky if you're a sailor, because of his ship sinking. Agree it's pretty lucky to survive being eaten by a whale!

'and the whale'.
Noah's ark etc.
It's much nicer than Noah - it doesn't have No in it.

I have heard of Jonah and the whale but don’t know the story so never associated the name as unlucky. It’s a nice name

I think it is a nice name. I didn't know it was considered unlucky.

How about Jonas (like Jonas brothers) as an alternative?

Jonah Hill seems to be doing alright for himself

The unlucky thing would be the first thing I thought of after "and the big fish", tbh. I have an indelible image of Jonah being chucked overboard by the sailors.

I've heard people say 'he's a bit of Jonah' meaning a jinx or bad luck, but mainly older people so maybe it's dying out? I never really hear younger people saying it. Don't know how widespread it is (I'm in Dublin)

I know several Jonahs and I've never heard the unlucky thing? I am from a religious background too.
Jonah was chosen by God for being a righteous man, he tried to run away but didn't get very far and survived being eaten by a big fish in order to fulfill his destiny. Jonah was badass!

Such a good name.

Never heard of that. It’s a lovely name.

It's a major plot point in Master And Commander, so it's definitely not family specific! It's better known in naval families and the older generation. Naval superstitions are a bit batshit, there are so many of them.

I think it's an absolutely lovely name and the old association wouldn't stop me using it.

I know a Jonah and I've never heard the unlucky thing. I did vaguely associate it with 'and the whale' but turns out the band I was thinking of is called Noah and the Whale

It's not just your family - the name is associated with bad luck, presumably due to Jonah in the Bible (swallowed by a giant fish). As a fan of the Anne of Green Gables books it makes me think of "a Jonah day".

It wouldn't necessarily put me off the name, but when I meet a Jonah I do wonder whether the parents were aware of the association when they chose the name.

The Biblical bit is that God told Jonah to preach in Nineveh. Jonah didn't want to, so got on a ship sailing the opposite way.
God was pretty pissed off, so sent terrible weather and endless bad luck to torment the ship.
The sailors realised it was to punish Jonah that they had all this bad luck, so they dumped him overboard.
(then he got swallowed by a whale, then escaped and ended up in Nineveh anyway)

Anyone who brings bad luck is "a Jonah." Like a jinx.

Genuinely surprised so many have never heard the term 'Jonah' to mean an unlucky person or a person who brings bad luck/harm to the boat they're on.

Feeling proper old now!

I've heard people say 'he's a bit of Jonah' meaning a jinx or bad luck, but mainly older people so maybe it's dying out? I never really hear younger people saying it. Don't know how widespread it is (I'm in Dublin)

Actually I'm also from Dublin so maybe it is local!

How about Jonas instead? I would think of the whale

I have heard of the unlucky thing and reading PP realise that is probably because of Anne of Green Gables, although I have a vague memory of something like Little Women referring to someone as "a regular Jonah". But I do really like the name (along with Jonas, Joel, James, Jody if that was still a boy's name - all the J names!) and it wouldn't be the first thing I thought of.

Yes associate it with bad luck and wouldn’t use it. A colleague has a son Jonah but I wouldn’t mention the bad luck association as
that would be rude.