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    The first name Nathan

    A boy’s name from Hebrew meaning “gave”.

    Pronounced /ˈneɪθən/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    Hebrew origin

    Nathan means “gave” in Hebrew.

    From Hebrew נָתָן (natán, “gave”). Also short for Jonathan.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 528 boys were named Nathan, making it the 99th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 1998, with 3,211 births (#25).

    02,0004,000 1996200020052010201520202025
    47,388
    babies named Nathan, 1996–2025
    #99
    rank in 2025
    1998
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Nathan with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Nathan at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 4,975 boys born in the United States were named Nathan, the 63rd most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2004, when 14,634 were.

    010,00020,000 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    589,271
    babies named Nathan since 1880
    #63
    rank in 2025
    2004
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Nathan in other languages

    Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary

    Նաթան
    Natʻan
    Armenian
    內森 /内森
    Nèisēn
    Chinese
    Naatan
    Finnish
    Νέιθαν
    Néithan
    Greek
    נָתָן
    natán
    Hebrew
    Nátán
    Hungarian
    ネーサン
    Nēsan
    Japanese
    Natan
    Polish
    Natã
    Portuguese, also Natan
    На́тан
    Nátan
    Russian
    Natán
    Spanish, also Natan

    Spelled Nathan in Danish, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Latin, Norwegian and Swedish too.

    Nicknames and spellings

    Nicknames for Nathan

    Famous people named Nathan

    191 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Nathan Fillion
      Canadian-American actor (born 1971)
    • Nathan Aké
      Dutch footballer (born 1995)
    • Nathan Lane
      American actor, born 1956
    • Nathan Burns
      Australian association football player, born 1988
    • Nathan Kress
      American actor (born 1992)
    • Nathan Bedford Forrest
      Confederate States Army general (1821–1877)
    • Nathan Rosen
      American-Israeli physicist, 1909–1995
    • Nathan Delfouneso
      English association football player (born 1991)
    • Nathan Trent
      Austrian singer, born 1992
    • Nathan Redmond
      English association football player, born 1994
    • Nathan Chen
      American figure skater (born 1999)
    • Nathan Adrian
      American swimmer, born 1988

    More Hebrew boys’ names

    All 346 names of Hebrew origin

    Questions

    What does the name Nathan mean?
    Nathan means “gave” in Hebrew.
    What is the origin of the name Nathan?
    From Hebrew נָתָן (natán, “gave”). Also short for Jonathan.
    How popular is the name Nathan?
    In 2025, 528 boys born in England and Wales were named Nathan, ranking 99th. Its peak was 1998, with 3,211 births.
    What are nicknames for Nathan?
    Common nicknames for Nathan include Nate, Nat, Nath, Nathe.
    Is Nathan a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 589,271 US babies named Nathan since 1880 were boys.
    When was Nathan most popular?
    2004 in the United States, when 14,634 babies were named Nathan, its highest rank at 20th.
    How do you pronounce Nathan?
    Nathan is /ˈneɪθən/, 2 syllables.
    Is Nathan also a surname?
    Yes. Nathan is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.