William Boy
WIHL-yuhm
“resolute protector” · Germanic
#9
Nathan
BoyHebrew· “he gave”
- Meaning
- he gave
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- NAY-thuhn
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #63
- US babies 2025
- 4,975
- Best rank
- #20 (2004)
- Peak year
- 2004
Meaning and origin of Nathan
Nathan is a Hebrew name that means “he gave”.
Nathan comes from the Hebrew for "he gave" or "given". In the Bible, Nathan is a prophet at the court of King David who confronts the king with a parable about a stolen lamb; another Nathan is one of David's sons. English Puritans adopted the name after the Reformation. Nathan Hale, the American patriot executed by the British during the Revolutionary War, is a famous bearer, and Nathan the Wise is the title character of a well-known play by the German writer Lessing. Nathan is also sometimes used as a short form of Nathaniel or Jonathan. It feels friendly and steady, with Nate and Nat as nicknames.
Popularity over time
Nathan has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 146 different years. Its best national rank was #20 in 2004, the same year it reached its highest count of 14,634 babies. In 2025, 4,975 babies were named Nathan, and it ranked #63 nationally. That is 42% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #172 in 1920, #243 in 1950, #36 in 1980, #30 in 2000, #27 in 2010, and #63 in 2025. Of the 587,497 US boys named Nathan since records began, 23% were born in the 2000s, its biggest decade. The 1990s come next, with 107,332 babies. Since 2010, 119,789 more have been named Nathan.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Aidan, Connor, Juan, Ethan, and Ian.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Nathan ranked highest in Maryland, New Jersey, and California.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | #31 | 120 |
| New Jersey | #35 | 199 |
| California | #40 | 762 |
| Connecticut | #42 | 69 |
| Florida | #43 | 394 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Nathan is usually pronounced NAY-thuhn, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with N and ends in “-an”.
Middle names for Nathan
A few middle names that flow with Nathan: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Nathan
Similar names
Ethan Boy
EE-thuhn
“firm, enduring, strong” · Hebrew
#24
Ian Boy
EE-uhn
“God is gracious” · Scottish
#83
Evan Boy
EH-vuhn
“Yahweh is gracious” · Welsh
#153
Adan Boy
ah-DAHN
“man, earth” · Spanish
#482
Jonathan Boy
JAH-nuh-thuhn
“Yahweh has given” · Hebrew
#89
Dathan Boy
DAY-thuhn
Hebrew
#10,961
Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Jacob Boy
JAY-kuhb
“holder of the heel, supplanter” · Hebrew
#43
Daniel Boy
DAN-yuhl
“God is my judge” · Hebrew
#22
Matthew Boy
MATH-yoo
“gift of Yahweh” · Hebrew
#32
Samuel Boy
SAM-yoo-uhl
“God has heard” · Hebrew
#18
Isaac Boy
EYE-zuhk
“he will laugh” · Hebrew
#47
Lists that include Nathan
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Nathan mean?
Nathan is a Hebrew name that means “he gave”.
What is the origin of the name Nathan?
Nathan has Hebrew roots. Nathan comes from the Hebrew for "he gave" or "given".
Is Nathan a popular name?
Yes. Nathan ranked #63 in the US in 2025, which makes it one of the 100 most popular names.
Is Nathan a boy or girl name?
Nathan is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Nathan?
Nathan is usually pronounced NAY-thuhn. 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