Definition of "Jonathan"

And it came to pass, when he had made an end to speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], 1 Samuel 18:1

Then Jonathan and Simon took Judas their brother, and buried him in the sepulchre of his fathers in Modin.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], 1 Maccabees 9:19

“Well indeed,” said Foley, “’tis a mystery to me how the sergeant puts up with her. If any woman up and called me an outlandish name like Jonathan when everyone knew my name was plain John I’d do fourteen days for her - by God, I would, and a calendar month.”

1936 Frank O'Connor, In The Train. The Stories of Frank O’Connor, Knopf, 1952. page 166

So I’d change to names I really like. I mean, Jonathan. If I ever have a son I’m going to call him Jonathan, so I’d have that. And then I like monosyllabic surnames that aren’t too common, so I’d have Dean or Bell or King. There you are, how about Jonathan King?

1998, Barbara Vine, The Chimney Sweeper’s Boy, page 168

For example, Jonathans are tart and great for baking.

2018 October 4, “4H column: Join the Great Lakes Apple Crunch”, in Chillicothe Gazette

Here crashed a sturdy oath of stout John Bull,Who damned away his eyes as heretofore;There Paddy brogued “By Jasus!”—“What’s your Wull?”The temperate Scot exclaimed; the French Ghost sworeIn certain terms I shan’t translate in full,As the first Coachman will; and midst the roarThe voice of Jonathan was heard to express,“Our president is going to war, I guess.”—

1822, Lord Byron, The Vision of Judgement, stanza 59

The best single source of comment on Marble's capacities as a low comedian, as with the other Yankees, is the record of his London reception. […] One viewer thought it was not as outrageous as Jonathans usually are, […]

2014, Francis Hodge, Yankee Theatre: The Image of America on the Stage, 1825–1850