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At a Glance
- Meaning
- He gave
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Gender
- Boy
- Pronunciation
- NAY-thun
Nathan is a Hebrew name meaning 'he gave.' You may have heard it defined as 'gift from God,' but that fuller meaning actually belongs to the related name Nathaniel; Nathan on its own traces only to the Hebrew verb 'to give.' It has a timeless, classic feel, pronounced NAY-thun (/ˈneɪθən/).
Meaning & Origin of Nathan
Meaning: He gave.
Origin: Hebrew.
A common claim: Nathan is often said to mean 'gift from God.' Actually: That fuller meaning belongs to the related name Nathaniel ('God has given'); Nathan alone traces only to the Hebrew verb 'to give' — 'he gave,' without the 'God' element.
Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.
How to Pronounce Nathan
NAY-thunIPA /ˈneɪθən/
Popularity of Nathan
According to Social Security data going back to 1880, Nathan peaked at #20 in 2004 with 14,633 babies given the name, and by 2024 it had eased to #62 with 5,010 — still in regular use, just further from its early-2000s high.
Names Like Nathan
These names share Nathan’s style, era or origin.
FAQ
What does the name Nathan mean?
He gave. (Source: Wiktionary)
How do you pronounce Nathan?
Nathan is pronounced NAY-thun (IPA: /ˈneɪθən/).
Is Nathan a popular name right now?
Nathan peaked at #20 in 2004 and is ranked #62 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)
Make Nathan Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Nathan, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
📊 How popular is Nathan? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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