boy's name
Nathan
NAY-thun
- Origin Hebrew
- Gender Boy
- Syllables 2
- Letters 6
- Popularity Top 100 (US)
- Births on record 827,534
the United States
#63
2025 births
Nathan is a boy's name of Hebrew origin meaning "he gave," from Natan. He is the prophet who confronts King David over Bathsheba and Uriah, using a parable to make David condemn himself before revealing the accusation.
- Nathan is a name of Hebrew origin.
- Peaked in 2004, when 14,696 babies were given the name.
- It has been falling over the past decade.
- Today about 1 in 666 babies in the United States is given this name.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Nathan over time
Births per decade in the United States, 1880s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, still in progress — it covers 2020 to 2025, not a full ten years.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 1,106 |
| 1890s | 1,180 |
| 1900s | 1,616 |
| 1910s | 7,144 |
| 1920s | 6,748 |
| 1930s | 4,719 |
| 1940s | 5,582 |
| 1950s | 10,157 |
| 1960s | 15,584 |
| 1970s | 66,212 |
| 1980s | 106,660 |
| 1990s | 107,552 |
| 2000s | 135,110 |
| 2010s | 88,121 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 31,780 |
What Nathan means
Nathan means he gave or gift, from the Hebrew natan, to give. It is the base element behind Nathaniel and Jonathan, both of which add a word for God to say that God has given.
Where Nathan comes from
Nathan comes from the Hebrew Natan, from natan, meaning to give. It stands alone as a name and also forms the root of Nathaniel, God has given, and Jonathan, Yahweh has given. The biblical Nathan is a prophet at David's court, and his confrontation with the king is among the most quoted scenes in Samuel: he tells a parable about a rich man stealing a poor man's only lamb, and when David angrily condemns the man, Nathan replies that David is that man. The name entered English use after the Reformation and has been steadily used since.
Nathan in use
Nathan, Nathaniel and Jonathan all build on the same Hebrew verb meaning to give.
How popular is Nathan?
In 2025, Nathan was given to 4,980 babies in the United States, ranking #63 that year. It is one of the most popular names in the United States.
Where Nathan is used
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
Names that peaked alongside Nathan
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents who like Nathan also like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Nathan over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
2 nicknames for Nathan
Each one is a name in its own right — the figure underneath is how it is doing today, so you can see which short forms are rising and which have faded.
Nathan in other languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling names for Nathan
Names from the same era that won't rhyme or share an initial with Nathan — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common questions about Nathan
What does the name Nathan mean?
Nathan means "he gave," from the Hebrew natan.
Is Nathan short for Nathaniel?
No. Nathan is its own name; Nathaniel adds El, God, to the same root.
Who was Nathan in the Bible?
The prophet who confronted King David over Bathsheba using a parable about a stolen lamb.
How popular is the name Nathan?
In 2025, Nathan was given to 4,980 babies in the United States, ranking #63 that year. It is one of the most popular names in the United States.
Is Nathan a girl's or a boy's name?
Nathan is given almost entirely to boys in birth records.
How many syllables are in Nathan?
Nathan has 2 syllables.
When was Nathan most popular?
Nathan peaked in 2004, when 14,696 babies were given the name. It has been falling over the past decade.
What are the nicknames for Nathan?
Nathan is usually shortened to Nate and Nat.
Is Nathan a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Nathan currently ranks #13 in the United States. It has been falling over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.