Younis is an alternate transcription of Arabic يونس (Yunus), which itself is the Arabic form of Jonah, ultimately of Hebrew origin.EtymologyThe name traces back to the Hebrew Yona, meaning "dove." In the Old Testament, Jonah is the prophet swallowed by a great fish. The Arabic form Yunus appears in the Quran, where the prophet is known as Yunus ibn Matta and is the only one of the Twelve Minor Prophets named in the Islamic scripture. The tenth chapter of the Quran is named Surah Yunus.Cultural and Religious SignificanceIn Islam, Yunus is revered as a prophet and messenger of God. The Quran refers to him as Dhul-Nūn ("The One of the Fish") in Surah Al-Anbiya 21:87 and Al-Qalam 68:48. His story, recounted in Surah As-Saffat 37:139-148, parallels the biblical account: he fled from God's command, was thrown overboard in a storm, swallowed by a fish, and after repentance, was saved and emerged three days later.Notable BearersYounis is a common given name among Arabic-speaking Muslims, honoring the prophet. Notable namesakes include Younis Mahmoud, an Iraqi footballer and captain of the Iraqi national team, and Younis Emami, an Iranian footballer. The variant Younes is especially common in North Africa.Related NamesVariants include Yunus (Arabic), Younes (Maghrebi Arabic), Yunis (Azerbaijani), and Yonas (Tigrinya). In other languages, direct equivalents are Jonah (English), Jonas (Swedish), and Yona (Hebrew).Meaning: DoveOrigin: Hebrew, via ArabicType: Given nameUsage: Arabic-speaking Muslim communities