The nameEthan
Ethan is a boy's name of Hebrew origin meaning "firm, enduring". It was a top 10 name in the United States through much of the 2000s and 2010s.
- Boy's name
- Hebrew
Meaning
Ethan comes from the Hebrew Eitan, "firm, strong, enduring".
Origin
Hebrew. Ethan the Ezrahite is a wise man of the Old Testament, to whom Psalm 89 is attributed.
History
Ethan was used in colonial America, as with Ethan Allen, a hero of the American Revolution. It became very fashionable from the 1990s and spread to Britain, France and the rest of Europe in the 2000s.
Ethan in other languages
Ethan is spelled the same in English and French, and Eitan in Hebrew, where the word means "firm, enduring". It owes its worldwide success to the United States, where it reached the top 10 in the early 2000s.
Did you know?
- In 1775 Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys captured Fort Ticonderoga at the start of the American Revolutionary War.
- Ethan Hawke has been nominated for Oscars both as an actor and as a screenwriter.
Famous people named Ethan
- Ethan Allen, American Revolutionary leader
- Ethan Hawke, actor
- Ethan Coen, filmmaker
- Ethan Hunt, hero of Mission: Impossible
Popularity of the name Ethan
Ethan in the United States
Ethan was most popular in the United States in the 2000s, with 202,198 births over the decade, 42% of all recorded babies named Ethan. Its rise began around 1989, and it peaked in 2004. Half of all babies named Ethan in the United States were born before 2007, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 8,547 births a year on average, against 12,947 in the five years before.
Ethan in the United Kingdom
Ethan was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2000s, with 38,167 births over the decade, 44% of all recorded babies named Ethan. Half of all babies named Ethan in the United Kingdom were born before 2010, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 1,338 births a year on average, against 2,374 in the five years before.
Ethan in Ireland
Ethan in France
Ethan in Belgium
Ethan in Switzerland
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Ethan
Names from the same generation as Ethan, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Ethan? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Ethan with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Ethan side by side with the name of your choice.
Ethan in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ethan mean?
Ethan comes from the Hebrew Eitan, "firm, strong, enduring".
What is the origin of the name Ethan?
Hebrew. Ethan the Ezrahite is a wise man of the Old Testament, to whom Psalm 89 is attributed.
Is Ethan a girl's or a boy's name?
Ethan is a boy's name.
How popular is the name Ethan?
In 2024, Ethan was the 19th most popular name for baby boys in the United States, with 8,170 births.
What are the variants of the name Ethan?
Variants and related names of Ethan include Etan.
What are good sibling names for Ethan?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Abigail, Elizabeth, Madeline and Isabella for a sister, Caleb, Daniel, Gabriel and David for a brother.
Who are famous people named Ethan?
Ethan Allen, American Revolutionary leader; Ethan Hawke, actor; Ethan Coen, filmmaker; Ethan Hunt, hero of Mission: Impossible.