Meaning and history
Joona is the Finnish form of Jonah. Jonah comes from Hebrew Yonah, meaning “dove.” In the Hebrew Bible, the prophet Jonah attempts to flee a divine mission and is swallowed by a great fish before preaching at Nineveh, giving the name lasting Jewish, Christian, and Islamic significance. Notable bearers include Finnish musician Joona Toivanen and Finnish footballer Joona Veteli. The doubled vowel reflects Finnish orthography.