Nathan

Updated: October 25, 2023 by Sarah Nance

Nathan is an extremely popular baby name for boys, currently ranking at number 55 on the Social Security Popularity Index. The name has been in existence since Old Testament times, though it began from the Hebrew name “Natan.” The name is a kind and attractive name that is sure to bring joy to your child, and it can also be a shortened form of a name like Nathaniel.

Meaning and Origin of the name Nathan:

Nathan is the English version of the Hebrew baby name “Natan” that is found in the Bible. This original Hebrew name was the same as the word “Natan” which means “to give” or “he gave.” With the popularity of Biblical names in the Protestant Reformation, Nathan spread in popularity, even popularized by American patriot Nathan Hale.

Symbolism of the name Nathan:

Nathan means “He gave” or “given” as it comes from the Hebrew verb for “give.” The first bearer of the name in the Bible is Nathan who was a prophet in the Old Testament, always giving the message from the Lord, as the meaning represents. It was also the name of one of David's sons in the Old Testament and of family members of David's army.

Nicknames for the name Nathan:

Nat
Nate
Nath
Nats
Natty
Thanos
Thanny
Nathie
Than
Natie
Athan
Han

Style of the name Nathan:

Classical

Gender of the name Nathan:

The baby name Nathan is only used for boys.

Pronunciation of the name Nathan:

NAY-then

Number of syllables in the name Nathan:

Two

Emotion evoked from the name Nathan:

Nathan is a kind and strong name. It even has a bit of attractiveness and flirtatiousness associated with it.

Alternative spellings for the name Nathan:

Nathen
Nathyn

Popularity of the name Nathan:

The baby name Nathan has been on the top 100 list since the year 1972 at number 79. In 1975, the name rose to the top 50 list until 2018. The name has slightly declined in the past couple of years, however, as in 2019 and 2020, the name ranked at number 55 for boys.