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?

I think it's a lovely name .

South of England here and we use it too!

I think I heard once that there is a deeper metaphor than being jnside a whale

I am well acquainted with the Biblical story about Jonah, but I have never heard anyone in my real life refer to someone named Jonah as connected to bad luck. Maybe it's a regional thing?
I think it is a very nice name! Jonah in the Bible prays to God and is saved.

I've never heard of that! I know one Jonah, it's a lovely name.

I have a three year old Jonah and never heard of that!

My son isn't unlucky by any means, he's the most loved boy (along with his brother) in the whole world.

Lots of people comment on how lovely his name is.

It's not a regional thing. It's something you're likely to have heard of if you were brought up going to church and/or Sunday school, or to a church school or an old-fashioned school with Christian-based RE lessons, or if you have naval connections, or if you've read a lot of older books. It's an extremely well known phrase but as this thread demonstrates it seems to be dying out.

I'd think of bad luck immediately but I expect I would forget about that if I got to know a little boy called Jonah. It's a good name in itself. I prefer Jonathan, though.

He's also known for refusing to do what God told him, for running away from God, drawing an unlucky short straw (that's literally where the phrase comes from), being thrown overboard.

He was a normal human being. And he survived.

I wouldn't use it personally because of the association (which I think is more widely known than you may realise). I've heard people say people are 'Jonahs'. Also, the actor Jonah Hill is the most famous Jonah I know and he seems a rather troubled soul to say the least.

My point is that you said in the bible the name has good connotations (prays to God and is saved) however he is ALSO taught as a bad example, an example of what NOT to be. The phrase 'to draw the short straw' comes directly from the bible story of Jonah.

So it is a name biblically with mixed positive and negative associations.

But this is a largely secular country, and from the thread, most people won't make those negative connections.

You are right! The biblical name Jonah certainly has both negative and positive connotations.

I am not from the UK. My home country is traditionally Christian (now secular), but there we don't have any kind of expression about "being a Jonah and bringing/having bad luck", or anything like that nowadays, as far as I know. The only thing I have heard about is that it might be bad luck to have a priest/preacher in a boat, but the name Jonah is not mentioned specifically.
Of course, if you live someplace in the United Kingdom or Ireland where the name Jonah is strongly connected with bringing bad luck, you would think twice about give your child that name.

Interesting discussion!

I came here to say this! My dad and my grandpa were both naval men and I definitely heard it growing up.

I have a Jonah, he's so scrumptious and lovely.

I love the name Jonah, I wanted it for ds but dh said no because of the association with bad luck. I've only ever met one Jonah and he is a genuinely lovely person so I'd associate it with him rather than the biblical Jonah

The adorable little boy in Sleepless in Seattle was Jonah (not Tom Hanks, the little one 😁)

😂This thread has left me even more confused as it seems a pretty even split. I'm not from a naval or religious family and from London and have definitely heard of it as a thing (obviously or I wouldn't have started this thread). My DH hadn't (he's from Liverpool if that makes a difference) but he's from a fairly religious family with a close circle of his parents' friends who are in their 70s
and I'm pretty sure they'll think of it. I don't think many people our age or younger will.

We seem to only like biblical names despite being not being religious, do you think that would lead to people making assumptions? DS1 is Nathaniel but pretty much always known as Nate. Other names on our list are Gabriel and Zachary.

I don’t see any issue with it. It’s fine as a name. I’ve never heard anyone use Jonah in any negative way. If you like it use it, it’s a well known name, lots of kids have it without it being overused

I love the name Jonah but always think bad luck. It’s why we didn’t use it

I have never heard the name Jonah associated with bad luck! But I will admit that I'm not at all religious or knowledgeable about the bible stories. But nowadays, that's the case for lots of people I think. Anyway, it's a great, solid name.

Tbh the first thing that comes to mind for me when I hear the name Jonah is a song that goes "Jonah, Jonah, listen to me Jonah, listen while I tell you about a plan I have in mind." What is that??

I think it's a gorgeous name. I love nn Joe. I'm old and from a religious family but if I've ever heard of a negative connotation then I've forgotten about it! I wanted Joel but got overruled.

No. It’s quite popular right now, so wouldn’t worry about it.

I've never heard of Jonah associated with bad luck, but I'm not from a naval or religious family! I think it's a lovely name, just heard of another little baby called it. I don't think you're in Cain territory!

Personally I don't think Gabriel or Zachary are as nice. I wouldn't worry about being seen as religious with a Nathaniel.

The name makes me think of Jonah Lomu. I suppose he was quite unlucky. But I’ve never heard of it as a general association with bad luck.

The biblical Jonah went to Nineveh (after the whale coughed him up) to tell them to repent, and the whole city repented, so he was probably the most successful prophet in the Bible! Most prophets were largely ignored.

And someone asked about the song: it’s from Jonah Man Jazz. We used to sing it at school.