Nathan
Nathan is a boy's name of Hebrew origin.
Meaning
He gave or gift of God.
Origin and history
Nathan is a classic male given name derived from the Hebrew root meaning 'he gave'. It has biblical origins, famously borne by the prophet who served as an advisor to King David. In the United States, Nathan has consistently maintained strong popularity over the past several decades as a timeless, traditional choice.
Popularity in the United States
587,497 babies in the United States have been named Nathan since 1880. It ranks #57 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #59.
States where it is most popular
- CA (12.9 %)
- TX (8 %)
- OH (4.7 %)
- PA (4.7 %)
- NY (4.7 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 1,106 |
| 1890-1900 | 1,180 |
| 1900-1910 | 1,616 |
| 1910-1920 | 7,132 |
| 1920-1930 | 6,715 |
| 1930-1940 | 4,699 |
| 1940-1950 | 5,577 |
| 1950-1960 | 10,126 |
| 1960-1970 | 15,524 |
| 1970-1980 | 65,857 |
| 1980-1990 | 105,987 |
| 1990-2000 | 107,332 |
| 2000-2010 | 134,857 |
| 2010-2019 | 88,034 |
| 2020-2029 | 31,755 |
Famous people named Nathan
- Nathan Hale: soldier, spy
- Nathan Lane: actor, comedian
- Nathan Chen: figure skater, athlete
Nicknames
Nate, Nath
Fun facts
- In the Hebrew Bible, Nathan was a court prophet during the reign of King David and King Solomon.
- Nathan has remained among the top 100 boys' names in the United States for many consecutive decades.