William Boy
WIHL-yuhm
“resolute protector” · Germanic
#9
Nate
BoyEnglish, Hebrew· “short for Nathan or Nathaniel; gift”
- Meaning
- short for Nathan or Nathaniel; gift
- Origin
- English, Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- NAYT
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #1,748
- US babies 2025
- 93
- Best rank
- #1,019 (1880)
- Peak year
- 2007
Meaning and origin of Nate
Nate is an English and Hebrew name that means “short for Nathan or Nathaniel; gift”.
Nate is a short form of Nathan and Nathaniel, both of which come from Hebrew. Nathan means he gave, while Nathaniel means gift of God. In the Hebrew Bible, Nathan was a prophet at King David's court, and Nathaniel appears in the Gospel of John as a disciple of Jesus. As a given name on its own, Nate has a friendly, easygoing feel. It is short, strong and easy to pair with longer middle names. It suits parents who want a casual, approachable name with a traditional background.
Popularity over time
Nate has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #1,019 in 1880, and the most babies received it in 2007, when 181 were named Nate. In 2025, 93 babies were named Nate, and it ranked #1,748 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #3,403 in 1920, #2,419 in 1980, #1,938 in 2000, #1,275 in 2010, and #1,748 in 2025. Of the 4,490 US boys named Nate since records began, 26% were born in the 2000s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 1,031 babies. Since 2010, 1,632 more have been named Nate.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Cian, Javian, Sebastien, Jakub, and Trenten.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Nate ranked highest in New Jersey, New York, and Washington.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | #997 | 6 |
| New York | #1034 | 12 |
| Washington | #1100 | 5 |
| Florida | #1177 | 11 |
| California | #1406 | 13 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Nate is usually pronounced NAYT, with one syllable. It has four letters, starts with N and ends in “-te”.
Middle names for Nate
A few middle names that flow with Nate: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Nate
Similar names
Tate Boy
TAYT
“from an Old English personal name” · English
#194
Zack Boy
ZAK
“short for Zachary; God has remembered” · Hebrew
#1,435
Cale Boy
KAYL
“short for Caleb; also a surname” · English
#2,722
Gabe Boy
GAYB
“short form of Gabriel, God is my strength” · English
#4,591
Jude Boy
JOOD
“praised” · Hebrew
#155
Jake Boy
JAYK
“short form of Jacob” · English
#457
Zeke Boy
ZEEK
“God strengthens” · Hebrew
#803
Joan Unisex
JOHN
“God is gracious” · English
#987
Mike Boy
MYK
“who is like God?” · English
#1,234
Josh Boy
JAHSH
“short form of Joshua; God is salvation” · English
#1,703
Ike Boy
EYEK
“short for Isaac: he will laugh” · English
#2,460
Abe Boy
AYB
“short for Abraham: father of multitudes” · Hebrew
#2,207
Lists that include Nate
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Nate mean?
Nate is an English and Hebrew name that means “short for Nathan or Nathaniel; gift”.
What is the origin of the name Nate?
Nate has English and Hebrew roots. Nate is a short form of Nathan and Nathaniel, both of which come from Hebrew.
Is Nate a popular name?
Not especially. Nate ranked #1,748 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Nate a boy or girl name?
Nate is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Nate?
Nate is usually pronounced NAYT. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings