Nathan Name Meaning

Learn more about the meaning, origin, and popularity of the name Nathan.

The name Nathan has ties to both Nathaniel and Jonathan, with all three names meaning something similar to “gift of God” or “God has given.” In the Old Testament, Nathan was a prophet and one of King David’s sons. He acted as a messenger to King David and is considered one of Jesus’ ancestors.

• Origin: Nathan is a Hebrew name meaning “gift of God” or “he gave.”

• Gender: Nathan is traditionally used as a boy name.

• Pronunciation: NAY-thuhn 
  

Editor's Note

Although many baby names are separated by gender, Parents believes that sex does not need to play a role in your name selection process. It’s important to select a name that you feel suits your new baby the best.

How Popular Is the Name Nathan?

Nathan is popular in Europe, often ranking in the top 100 boys' names in countries like France and Belgium. It’s also quite popular here in the US, too. Per the Social Security Administration's rankings, it has remained in the top 100 boys' names since 1972. After hitting No. 45 in 1975, it didn't dip below No. 50 again until 2019. In 2022, Nathan was in the 57th spot. Its peak popularity was at No. 20 in 2004 and 2005.

It's unclear why the name Nathan became so popular in the '70s. However, it could be because the annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, hosted by the iconic Coney Island institution Nathan’s Famous, had its inaugural contest in 1972 with much fanfare and publicity. It’s possible that event had something to do with putting Nathan on the radar—and it has stayed popular ever since, thanks to its immense likability.

Name Variations

While Nathan actually remains the same across a variety of languages, there are a few variations including:

• Natan (Hebrew)

• Nathanael (French)

• Nathaniel (Greek, Hebrew)

• Neizan (Spanish)

• Nosson (Yiddish)

Similar Names

Other Hebrew boy names include:

• Aaron

• Adam

• Benjamin

• David

• Elijah

• Isaac

• Jacob

• Joshua

• Levi

• Noah

• Simon

Other names starting with "N" include:

• Nash

• Nasir

• Neil

• Nico

• Nicolas

• Nils

• Nixon

• Nolan

• Norman

Other boy names with two syllables include:

• Brandon

• Caleb

• Ethan

• Jackson

• Logan

• Michael

• Phillip

• Robert

• Thomas

• Walter

• Warren

Common Nicknames for Nathan

Because Nathan is already a fairly easy-to-say name, it doesn’t lend itself to many nicknames. But if you choose the name Nathan, you can call your child Nat or Nate for short.

Suggested Sibling Names

Looking for a sibling name for Nathan? Here are some popular options:

• Abigail

• Charlie

• Charlotte

• Camilla

• Gabriel

• Henrietta

• Lucas

• Millie

• Molly

• Nora

• Oliver

• Owen

• Rebecca

• Sarah

• Sawyer

• Violet

Famous People Named Nathan

Nathan is a name that never goes out of style or dates itself, so it’s no surprise that Nathans have popped up throughout history in many fields. From popular actor Nathan Fillion to Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs, the name can be found just about everywhere.

Famous Nathans

• Nathan ("Nate") Berkus, American interior designer

• Nathan Fielder, writer and comedian

• Nathan Hale, American soldier and spy during the Revolutionary War

• Nathan Handwerker, founder of Nathan’s Famous

• Nathan Kress, Nickelodeon actor

• Nathan Lane, an actor known for the Broadway musical The Producers

• Nathan Fillion, actor known for TV shows such as Castle and The Rookie

Fictional Nathans

• Prince Nathan, son of the title character in the comic strip “Prince Valiant”

• Nathan Detroit, the lead character in Broadway musical Guys and Dolls

• Nathan Drake, main character in the Uncharted video game series

• Nathan Petrelli, ensemble character in NBC TV show Heroes
  

More Baby Names

Still searching for the perfect baby name? Check out these related baby name lists for even more options:

• Top 1,000 Baby Boy Names

• 300 Popular Baby Names Ending in A, N, and Y

• 50 Hebrew Baby Names

For more Parents news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on Parents.