Nathan Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Nathan is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Nathan?
Nathan is spelled N-A-T-H-A-N. The name has 6 letters.
Nathan at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Gift or given.
- Origin
- Nathan is commonly associated with Hebrew origins, deriving from the Hebrew name Nathan, which means “gift” or “he gave.”
- Pronunciation
- NAY-thuhn · 2 syllables
Nathan Popularity in 2025
Rank#14,942
Recorded Births5
Rank#63
Recorded Births4,975
- Girls usage fell 3,820 places to #14,942 and recorded 3 fewer births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage fell 1 place to #63 and recorded 54 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Nathan Mean?
Gift or given.
Origin: Nathan is commonly associated with Hebrew origins, deriving from the Hebrew name Nathan, which means “gift” or “he gave.”
How Do You Pronounce Nathan?
PronunciationNAY-thuhn
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Nathan?
- History
- Nathan is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible as a prophet during the reigns of Kings David and Solomon.
Nathan Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2012 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 5 | #14,942 |
| 2025 | Boys | 4,975 | #63 |
| 2024 | Girls | 8 | #11,122 |
| 2024 | Boys | 5,029 | #62 |
| 2023 | Boys | 5,073 | #59 |
| 2022 | Girls | 6 | #13,592 |
| 2022 | Boys | 5,544 | #57 |
| 2021 | Girls | 6 | #13,464 |
| 2021 | Boys | 5,432 | #59 |
| 2020 | Boys | 5,702 | #55 |
| 2019 | Boys | 6,090 | #55 |
| 2018 | Girls | 10 | #9,806 |
| 2018 | Boys | 6,850 | #48 |
| 2017 | Girls | 8 | #11,615 |
| 2017 | Boys | 7,442 | #45 |
| 2016 | Girls | 6 | #14,331 |
| 2016 | Boys | 8,000 | #43 |
| 2015 | Girls | 9 | #10,866 |
| 2015 | Boys | 8,600 | #38 |
| 2014 | Girls | 9 | #10,955 |
| 2014 | Boys | 8,997 | #38 |
| 2013 | Girls | 9 | #11,000 |
| 2013 | Boys | 9,721 | #31 |
| 2012 | Girls | 16 | #7,456 |
When Was Nathan Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2004 · Boys
14,634 recorded births
National rank #20
2005 · Boys
14,365 recorded births
National rank #20
2006 · Boys
14,278 recorded births
National rank #23
2003 · Boys
13,667 recorded births
National rank #26
Where Nathan Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| MD | #30 | 120 |
| NJ | #35 | 199 |
| CA | #40 | 762 |
| CT | #42 | 69 |
| FL | #43 | 394 |
| TX | #44 | 683 |
| MA | #46 | 123 |
| NY | #48 | 329 |