Boy name · Hebrew
Nathan
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: he gaveNathan is a boy's name that comes from Hebrew and means "he gave". It is used in English, French and Hebrew.
- Meaning
- He gave
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #63 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Nathan
As a boy's name, Nathan comes from Hebrew and means "he gave". It is used in English, French and Hebrew.
In French, say nah-TAHN. Respellings are a guide; accents vary by region.
Nathan is also a surname: the 4,353rd most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 7,874 people. See the most common last names.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Nathan on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Nathan on 5 lists.
“He gave; Hebrew. Prophet who advised King David, 2 Samuel”
From Biblical names, biblical names for boys
“He gave; Hebrew. Prophet at King David's court”
From Boy middle names, biblical middle names for boys
“He gave; Hebrew. The prophet who advised King David”
From Classic boy names, classic biblical boy names
“He gave; Hebrew, the prophet who advised King David”
From Cute boy names, cute biblical boy names
“He gave; Hebrew. Say nah-TAHN”
From French boy names, popular French boys' names right now
How popular is Nathan?
- US rank in 2025
- #63
- 4,975 babies, 2,913 per million boys
- Best rank
- #20 in 2004
- 14,634 babies that year
- Babies since 1880
- At least 587,497
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 1,010 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 1,034 per million |
| 1900s | 1,190 per million |
| 1910s | 1,068 per million |
| 1920s | 609 per million |
| 1930s | 445 per million |
| 1940s | 375 per million |
| 1950s | 501 per million |
| 1960s | 806 per million |
| 1970s | 3,987 per million |
| 1980s | 5,742 per million |
| 1990s | 5,510 per million |
| 2000s | 6,756 per million |
| 2010s | 4,682 per million |
| 2020s | 3,064 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #43 | #45 | #48 | #55 | #55 | #59 | #57 | #59 | #62 | #63 |
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.
Nicknames for Nathan
Established short forms and pet names, not made-up ones.
- Natecommon English nickname
- Natth becomes t: Nathaniel, Nat
Other forms of Nathan
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
- NatanHe gave (Hebrew, boy)
Names spelled like Nathan
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- NachmanComforter (Hebrew, boy)
- NaomhánLittle saint (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- NitzanBud (Hebrew, unisex)
Names with a similar meaning
- ChinyereGod gave (Igbo, girl)
Middle names for Nathan
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a shorter length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from Hebrew
- AdamMan, humankind (Hebrew, boy)
- DavidBeloved one (Hebrew, boy)
- DanielGod is my judge (Hebrew, boy)
- NoahRest, repose (Hebrew, boy)
- EliasMy God is Yahweh (Hebrew, boy)
- GabrielGod is my strength (Hebrew, boy)
- AxelMy father is peace (Hebrew, boy)
- BenjaminSon of the right hand (Hebrew, boy)
- IsaacHe will laugh (Hebrew, boy)
- JanGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
Nathan: common questions
What does the name Nathan mean?
Nathan comes from Hebrew and means "he gave".
Is Nathan a boy or girl name?
Nathan is mainly a boy's name. In 2025, 5 girls and 4,975 boys in the US were named Nathan, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are nicknames for Nathan?
Common nicknames for Nathan include Nate and Nat.
How popular is the name Nathan?
Nathan ranked #63 in the US in 2025, with 4,975 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Nathan?
Forms of Nathan with the same meaning and origin include Natan (Hebrew).
What middle names go with Nathan?
Middle names that flow well with Nathan include Asher, Dale, Eli, Hugh and Levi. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.