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Jonas is the Greek form of Jonah used in the New Testament, so both names have the same history/meaning. Biblically, Jonah was a Jewish prophet who God sent to evangelize the people of Ninevah. The people of Ninevah were despised, and Jonah refused to minister to them, and took a ship headed to another city. There was a storm and Jonah told the crew to throw him into the sea to save themselves. After Jonah is thrown into the sea, the storm subsides and a fish swallows Jonah. Jonah stays in the belly of the fish for three days until the fish vomits him up on the land. Jonah then (still unwillingly) goes to the people of Ninevah and many repent. It is also mentioned that Jonah would rest under a fig tree for the shade, and God sent a worm to kill the fig tree. The fig tree died and Jonah mourned the loss of the tree. God then asks Jonah why he mourned for the loss of a tree but did not care for the loss of people (those in Ninevah).

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So, Jonah was a prophet, but he is remembered for rebelling against God, reluctance to obey, and being callously self-centered. So this may be where the "whiny" comes from.