Boy name · Irish Gaelic
Egan
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: little fireEgan is a boy's name that comes from Irish Gaelic and means "little fire". It is used in English and Irish.
- Meaning
- Little fire
- Origin
- Irish Gaelic
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #4068 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Egan
As a boy's name, Egan comes from Irish Gaelic and means "little fire". It is used in English and Irish.
In Irish, say EE-gan. Respellings are a guide; accents vary by region.
Egan is also a surname: the 1,569th most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 22,300 people. See the most common last names.
Its meaning puts Egan on our names that mean fire list.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Egan on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Egan on 3 lists.
“From Mac Aodhagáin, son of Aodhagán, a double pet form of Aodh, fire. Say EE-gan.”
From Irish boy names, irish surnames used as boy names
“Mac Aodhagáin, from a pet form of Aodh, fire; hereditary lawyers”
From Irish last names, irish surnames by meaning
“Son of little fire; Irish, a surname used as a first name”
From Names that mean fire, irish and Celtic names that mean fire
How popular is Egan?
- US rank in 2025
- #4,068
- 26 babies, 15 per million boys
- Best rank
- #2,368 in 2003
- Most babies: 49 in 2019
- Babies since 1915
- At least 1,219
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 0 per million |
| 1910s | 1 per million |
| 1920s | 0 per million |
| 1930s | 0 per million |
| 1940s | 0 per million |
| 1950s | 0 per million |
| 1960s | 1 per million |
| 1970s | 4 per million |
| 1980s | 4 per million |
| 1990s | 8 per million |
| 2000s | 20 per million |
| 2010s | 17 per million |
| 2020s | 16 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #4,509 | #3,333 | #3,393 | #2,632 | #3,512 | #3,841 | #4,019 | #3,919 | #4,012 | #4,068 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Other forms of Egan
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
Names spelled like Egan
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- EvanGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
- EgonEdge, blade (Germanic, boy)
- EranWatchful, vigilant (Hebrew, boy)
- EdgarWealthy spear (Old English, boy)
- EthanFirm, enduring (Hebrew, boy)
- ElianVariant of names beginning with Eli, such as Elijah (Hebrew, boy)
- EdenPossibly delight, pleasure (Hebrew, unisex)
- EgeThe Aegean Sea (Turkish, boy)
- EhabGift (Arabic, boy)
Names with a similar meaning
- KennethAnglicized Coinneach, handsome, and Cináed, perhaps born of fire (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- AodhFire, flame (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- AydenVariant of Aidan, little fire (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- KeeganSon of Aodhagán, little fire (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- ÁedFire (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- AgniFire (Sanskrit, boy)
- AodhnaitLittle fire (Irish Gaelic, girl)
- AteşFire (Turkish, boy)
- AzarFire (Persian, unisex)
- BrandSword, fire, torch (Old Norse, boy)
Middle names for Egan
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
- AlexanderDefender of men (Greek, boy)
- BartholomewSon of Talmai (Aramaic, boy)
- ChristopherBearer of Christ (Greek, boy)
- ForestWoodland (English, boy)
- MatthewGift of God (Hebrew, boy)
- QuentinFifth (Latin, boy)
- TrumanTrusty man (English, boy)
- WayneWagon maker or driver (Old English, boy)
More boy names from Irish Gaelic
- OscarPossibly deer friend (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- FinnFair, white (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- FergusMan of vigor (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- KevinGentle birth (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- RonanLittle seal (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- RoryRed king (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- BarryFair-haired (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- BrendanA prince (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- CaseyVigilant, watchful (Irish Gaelic, unisex)
- CassidyCurly-haired (Irish Gaelic, unisex)
Egan: common questions
What does the name Egan mean?
Egan comes from Irish Gaelic and means "little fire".
Is Egan a boy or girl name?
Egan is mainly a boy's name.
Where does the name Egan come from?
Egan comes from Irish Gaelic and means "little fire". Today it is used in English and Irish.
How popular is the name Egan?
Egan ranked #4,068 in the US in 2025, with 26 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Egan?
Forms of Egan with the same meaning and origin include Aidan (English), Aiden (English), Aodhagán (Irish) and Aodhán (Irish).
What middle names go with Egan?
Middle names that flow well with Egan include Alexander, Bartholomew, Christopher, Forest and Matthew. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.