Nathan Name Meaning

A Hebrew name that has seen steady popularity since the 1970s, Nathan means “He gave.” A familiar face with friendly vibes, Nathan is perfectly at home in classroom roll call.

While Nathan has ancient roots, he’s been a chart regular since the start of the U.S. Top 1000 count. He’s quite recognizable but not at all overused, managing to walk the fine line of popularity. At the same time, he’s an old-school pick with modern appeal that fits in with today’s top names like Brayden and Chase.

Religious parents will appreciate that Nathan is a Biblical name, appearing as a prophet in the holy book and as a son of David. His meaning also refers to God, implying that God is the giver. It’s a suitable name for a precious gift from above. Nathan is also a great alternative to more popular Biblical names like Jacob and Daniel.

Nathan is a versatile name, somehow feeling both strong and soft. He fits in with strong names for boys like Andrew and Arthur as well as gentler finds like Ethan and Emmett. He also remains free of timestamping, fit for a grown man and a curious toddler alike. Nicknames like Nate and Nat give it additional dimension. If you’re looking for something a little longer, check out his longer friend Nathaniel.

Infographic of Nathan name meaning, which is A Hebrew name, Nathan means he gave.
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Nathan Name Popularity

How popular is the name Nathan? Here’s everything we know.

Year Rank # Births % Births
1910 — 212 0.0602%
1911 — 325 0.0873%
1912 — 544 0.1079%
1913 — 578 0.1019%
1914 — 810 0.1162%
1915 — 890 0.098%
1916 — 876 0.0907%
1917 — 843 0.0843%
1918 — 922 0.0859%
1919 — 817 0.078%
1920 — 779 0.0701%
1921 — 719 0.0628%
1922 — 721 0.0647%
1923 — 718 0.0641%
1924 — 634 0.0546%
1925 — 592 0.0524%
1926 — 631 0.0574%
1927 — 604 0.0546%
1928 — 499 0.0466%
1929 — 471 0.0455%
1930 — 505 0.0483%
1931 — 420 0.0426%
1932 — 443 0.0448%
1933 — 384 0.0412%
1934 — 430 0.0445%
1935 — 432 0.0445%
1936 — 421 0.0437%
1937 — 401 0.0407%
1938 — 487 0.0476%
1939 — 429 0.0422%
1940 — 450 0.0423%
1941 — 480 0.0426%
1942 — 487 0.0386%
1943 — 555 0.0425%
1944 — 452 0.0365%
1945 — 457 0.0375%
1946 — 519 0.0352%
1947 — 587 0.0352%
1948 — 579 0.0363%
1949 — 635 0.0395%
1950 — 716 0.0445%
1951 — 836 0.0493%
1952 — 820 0.047%
1953 — 796 0.045%
1954 — 934 0.0511%
1955 — 925 0.0503%
1956 — 1,071 0.0567%
1957 — 1,210 0.0629%
1958 — 1,222 0.0647%
1959 — 1,353 0.0712%
1960 — 1,616 0.0853%
1961 — 1,478 0.0783%
1962 — 1,524 0.083%
1963 — 1,528 0.0851%
1964 — 1,486 0.0844%
1965 — 1,408 0.0861%
1966 — 1,404 0.0899%
1967 — 1,420 0.0936%
1968 — 1,642 0.1094%
1969 — 1,909 0.1239%
1970 — 2,548 0.1601%
1971 — 3,050 0.203%
1972 — 3,522 0.2586%
1973 — 4,749 0.3663%
1974 — 5,845 0.4497%
1975 — 7,064 0.5497%
1976 — 8,616 0.6685%
1977 — 9,894 0.734%
1978 — 9,891 0.7357%
1979 — 10,741 0.7618%
1980 — 11,144 0.7622%
1981 — 11,261 0.7661%
1982 — 10,803 0.7229%
1983 — 10,556 0.7153%
1984 — 10,612 0.7134%
1985 — 10,650 0.7017%
1986 — 9,995 0.6622%
1987 — 9,908 0.6493%
1988 — 10,148 0.6512%
1989 — 10,906 0.6758%
1990 — 10,936 0.6598%
1991 — 10,494 0.6438%
1992 — 10,146 0.6357%
1993 — 10,192 0.6537%
1994 — 10,382 0.6765%
1995 — 10,304 0.6837%
1996 — 10,283 0.6868%
1997 — 10,441 0.7059%
1998 — 11,584 0.774%
1999 — 12,534 0.837%
2000 — 13,036 0.8534%
2001 — 12,645 0.8392%
2002 — 13,220 0.8822%
2003 — 13,659 0.8978%
2004 — 14,627 0.9597%
2005 — 14,356 0.9389%
2006 — 14,273 0.9115%
2007 — 13,589 0.8613%
2008 — 13,253 0.8575%
2009 — 12,119 0.8108%
2010 — 11,372 0.7891%
2011 — 10,501 0.7371%
2012 — 10,417 0.731%
2013 — 9,709 0.6819%
2014 — 8,967 0.6155%
2015 — 8,577 0.5895%
2016 — 7,960 0.5521%
2017 — 7,390 0.5295%
2018 — 6,779 0.4934%
2019 — 6,039 0.4461%
2020 — 5,586 0.4389%
2021 — 5,401 0.4418%
2022 — 5,511 0.4177%
2023 — 5,059 0.3909%

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District of Columbia (DC)

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Idaho (ID)

Illinois (IL)

Indiana (IN)

Kansas (KS)

Kentucky (KY)

Louisiana (LA)

Massachusetts (MA)

Maryland (MD)

Maine (ME)

Michigan (MI)

Minnesota (MN)

Missouri (MO)

Mississippi (MS)

Montana (MT)

North Carolina (NC)

North Dakota (ND)

Nebraska (NE)

New Hampshire (NH)

New Jersey (NJ)

New Mexico (NM)

Nevada (NV)

New York (NY)

Ohio (OH)

Oklahoma (OK)

Oregon (OR)

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Tennessee (TN)

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Vermont (VT)

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Wisconsin (WI)

West Virginia (WV)

Wyoming (WY)

Data via SSA.gov.

Names Like Nathan

If you like Nathan, you’ll love these other names like Nathan.

What names are diminutives of Nathan?

A diminutive is a name that’s like Nathan sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Nathan, but shorter.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Nat

A diminutive form of Nathan and Nathaniel.

English

Nate

God has given

Hebrew

Nates

A short form of Nathan and Nathaniel.

What names are variants of Nathan?

Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Nathan.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Natan

God has given

Hebrew

Nathen

God has given

Hebrew

Nathon

God has given

Hebrew

What names sound like Nathan?

If you like how Nathan sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Nathan.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Ethan

Enduring and strong

Hebrew

Jonathan

God has given

Hebrew

Lathan

English

Nathanael

God has given

Hebrew

Nathaniel

God has given

Hebrew

What names are similar to Nathan?

Find a name that’s like Nathan, but just a little bit different.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Christopher

Bearing Christ

English

Jacob

Supplanter

Hebrew

James

Supplanter

English

Jason

To heal

Greek

John

God is gracious

Hebrew

Paul

Small

Latin

Samuel

Name of God

Hebrew

Simon

He has heard

Hebrew

Thomas

Twin

Greek

William

A willing protector

German

Lists With Nathan

Find inspiration in these baby boy name lists featuring the name Nathan.

Siblings of Nathan

Mamas with kids named Nathan also have kids with these names.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Emily

To excel

Latin

Lucas

From Lucania

Latin

Charlotte

Free man

French

Violet

Violet flower

English

Alexander

Defender of man

Greek

Hanna

He (God) has favored me

Hebrew

Calvin

Hairless one

English

Isaac

He will laugh

Hebrew

Jayce

To heal

American

Ryleigh

Rye clearing

English

Sarah

Princess

Hebrew

Nicholas

Victory of the people

Greek

31 Comments

  1. My husband and I had liked the name for a while, mostly the way it sounded. We also liked that it means gift.

    Reply

  2. I chosed Nathan for my son based on my likeness for one of the meanings – “He will give”. To me, my son is a gift from God and the fulfillment of God’s promise to give me and my family All the riches that we require for life and godlinesz

    Reply

  3. We choose the name because of it special meaning “Gift from God” “God gives”. Our baby is our most beautiful miracle and the most precious gift from God.

    Reply

  4. My first born child was a boy, and when we were dividing names it was hard to compromise, so one night I jokingly said “maybe we should name him after Nate“(who was a friend of ours). My husband said “you mean Nathan?” That’s when it hit me. This is the perfect name, and my husband agreed. So we finally settled on a name, and chose Samuel for the middle name. Sadly, my sweet son passed away in July of 2022, just 3 weeks before his 27th birthday. Nathan was truly a gift from God, and now God wanted him back.

    Reply

  5. My wife and I struggled with the a name for our first male child but the second child. We named our first child Emerald.Every name we choose didn’t feel right l have always liked the name so told my wife and she agreed so we looked up the meaning of Nathan and that was it, Nathan it is because it means a Gift from GOD and truly he is a Gift .

    Reply

  6. He’s fine he’s active he cool

    Reply

  7. The truth behind why we picked the name Nathan is because my husband and I last name begins with an N and our first names begin with an N, so we all wanted to have the initials of NN.
    Nathan’s name is actually meaning gift from God which of course he is, he’s the biggest blessing in me and my husband’s life after being together for 20 years and we’re both 36 years old , high school sweethearts. Nathan also means “He will give” or “he has given”.

    Reply

  8. I have always loved the name Nathan, and told myself if I ever have a boy, that would be his name. Plus Nathan means gift from God. My son is a perfect little gift from God.

    Reply

  9. We’re at first I didn’t know what to name my baby because I didn’t know if it was a boy or a girl but I had a good feeling that he was a boy so I was just looking up some names and saying if it was going to be a boy his name was going to be Nathan but I saw on a website so I decided to name him Nathan and if I was going to have a girl would name her Novak Amelia Beasley but I love the name Nathan <3 so much I love being a mom ik that it so hard taken care of your kids I have too boys a 3 year nd soon to have 1year old I can't wait to my boys to grow up into good men some day ?

    Reply

    • The name Nathan is good because if not god nothing can,t be given free on this earth , God has given

      Reply

  10. It’s in the bible

    Reply

  11. He was a great prophet and did not fear condemning even king david after he commited adultery and murder.

    Reply

  12. Nathan is my husband father’s name
    I love everything
    I ppromed at 16 weeks with Nathan and carried him at 34 weeks

    Reply

  13. We chose it because it’s a biblical name and God used Nathan to communicate very important and sometimes hard things to specific people, and Nathan hard the strength and obedience to do so.

    Reply

  14. It means gift from God

    Reply

  15. I just want to enjoy our bonding for now.

    Reply

  16. I forgot to mention all of our pregnant friends we deciding on Tethan for their boys. It was a name we’d be seriously considering for some time – so glad we chose Nathan!

    Reply

  17. Our son Nathan is now 15 years old but it feels to me like yesterday. What a fine, upstanding, considerate young man he’s become.

    I was 42 when I had him, (the one and only child) and it took me that long to find out what I was missing in my life.
    My Nathan is truly a gift from God.

    He was delivered premature but he’s caught up and excelled in eververy way and is a complete joy to be around.

    Reply

  18. Two great men, Nathan Hale, a patriot in the Revolutionary war and Nathan the Prophet who led King David back to God.

    Reply

  19. Loved this name for a while now. It’s been on my favorite boy name list since I got pregnant with my first boy and save this name for the next baby. <3

    Reply

  20. I chose Nathan because it sounds so sweet and loving! I love that it starts with the same letter as my first born– Nevaeh and they have 6 letters in the names. Nathan is a very pretty name and is highly recommended!

    Reply

  21. I like the nickname Nate that’s why I chose Nathan
    Once I saw him I knew we picked the perfect name

    Reply

  22. It was a family name also a Bible name

    Reply

  23. We played with my husband’s name whose middle name is Nathaniel and that is what his family calls him. I didn’t want a Junior so we decided to go with Nathan, still part of his name but not the exact same.

    Reply

  24. Love the way it goes with the rest of his name and his dad named him I like every thing about it there’s no dislike

    Reply

  25. We were sitting in church listening to a sermon about the prophet Nathan confronting king David for his sins. At the time we had not yet settled on a name for our 2nd boy. My husband and I were having trouble agreeing on a name. During the sermon we kind of both looked at each other and I said, “Nathan?” to which he nodded, YES! And that was settled! What’s been so fun about this name is that as a 3 year old, Nathan would pronounce the “TH” in his name as a “SH” and it stuck so we would call him “Nashan” pronounced like Nation. That got shortened to Naish so although he goes by Nathan most of the time, when we’re at home we call him Naish casually. His 18 month old cousin who recently started talking also pronounces Nathan as Nation. We love our Naish!

    Reply

  26. We chose Nathan because of its Hebrew origin meaning a gift from God. He was our first baby after 4 failed pregnancies.

    Reply

  27. When my husband and I were dating, we chose names for a boy and a girl. We chose the name Nathan simply because we liked it. We later found it means “gift from God”. Seven years after we were married, our first gift from God was born and we are so grateful.

    Reply

    • Nathan is a truly blessed child. We have had him for over 2 to maybe 2 years. We can maybe find to see that we are the good. Sometimes we be like it is and we find the be is the best in us. We like to have it be when we are. Once again nathan is the thanos. Thanos is truly is. I speaketh the perfectest english in my escuela. All in all we cannot wait to name is our 10th ninjo nathan. Furthermore we decided ourest childest would be is that it may be fine by it may be good.
      sincerely nathan (aka thanos)
      Love, Ur nathan.
      urs truly, nate. than.

      Reply

    • Nathan is name giving to male child.

      I’m be living God for a male child after which I will name him Nathan because of the love and passion I have for the name. 2samuel.7:2 talks more about Prophet Nathan.

      Reply

      • To God be the glory, my two baby boys is a God gift for me so I name them Nathan and Nathaniel.

        Thanks be the lord. Amen.

        Reply

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