Fun Facts About the Name Nathan
- An all-time favorite: U.S. records show 587,459 boys named Nathan from 1880 through 2025.
- Decades of popularity: Nathan stayed in the U.S. top 100 for 54 consecutive years, from 1972 through 2025.
- Still popular, but losing ground: Nathan's rank fell 24 places between 1995 and 2025, while remaining in the top 100.
- More than 589 thousand babies named Nathan: U.S. records list 589,233 babies given the name Nathan from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,774 girls received the name Nathan - about 1 girl for every 331 boys.
What Does the Name Nathan Mean?
Nathan is a masculine name from the Hebrew Natan (נָתָן), meaning "he gave" or "given." It comes from the Hebrew verb root n-t-n, "to give," and is a verb form rather than a compound name containing a divine element.
The name is distinct from Nathaniel, which comes from the Hebrew Netan'el (נְתַנְאֵל), meaning "God has given." Both share the root n-t-n, but Nathaniel includes the element el, "God," while Nathan does not. The common gloss "gift of God" belongs to Nathaniel, not to Nathan's independent etymology.
Nathan Name History & Origins
In the Hebrew Bible, Nathan is the name of the prophet who served at the court of King David and King Solomon. He appears in 2 Samuel and 1 Kings: he delivers God's promise of an enduring dynasty to David, confronts David after the king takes Bathsheba and has Uriah killed, and later supports Solomon's succession. The same name belongs to a son of David and Bathsheba, and the New Testament lists a Nathan in Luke's genealogy of Jesus.
The Hebrew name Natan (נָתָן) was transliterated into Greek as Ναθάν and into Latin as Nathan, the forms through which it passed into Christian Europe. Jewish communities continued to use the Hebrew form. In English, Nathan appears as a given name by the late 16th century; the actor and playwright Nathan Field was born in 1587. Gotthold Ephraim Lessing's 1779 play Nathan the Wise later gave the name a prominent German literary association.
How Popular is the Name Nathan?
Nathan remained among the top 100 boy names in the U.S. from 1972 to 2025. Its highest annual birth count was in 2004, and people born that year turn 22 in 2026.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #16,565 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2024 | #11,807 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2022 | #14,793 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2021 | #14,737 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2018 | #10,345 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2017 | #12,418 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2016 | #15,666 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2015 | #11,579 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2014 | #11,673 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2013 | #11,697 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2012 | #7,701 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2011 | #10,211 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2010 | #11,980 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2009 | #7,591 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2008 | #8,846 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 2007 | #7,319 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 2006 | #6,072 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 2005 | #4,341 | 32 | 0.0017% |
| 2004 | #2,669 | 62 | 0.0034% |
| 2003 | #4,901 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 2002 | #4,355 | 29 | 0.0016% |
| 2001 | #6,236 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2000 | #7,051 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1999 | #5,590 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1998 | #9,868 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1997 | #6,401 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1996 | #4,418 | 24 | 0.0014% |
| 1995 | #5,167 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1994 | #3,354 | 34 | 0.0019% |
| 1993 | #3,959 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 1992 | #4,982 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1991 | #3,786 | 28 | 0.0015% |
| 1990 | #4,082 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 1989 | #2,640 | 43 | 0.0023% |
| 1988 | #2,478 | 44 | 0.0025% |
| 1987 | #1,873 | 62 | 0.0036% |
| 1986 | #1,809 | 63 | 0.0037% |
| 1985 | #1,426 | 89 | 0.0052% |
| 1984 | #1,561 | 73 | 0.0043% |
| 1983 | #1,386 | 86 | 0.0051% |
| 1982 | #1,668 | 69 | 0.0041% |
| 1981 | #1,672 | 69 | 0.0041% |
| 1980 | #1,565 | 75 | 0.0045% |
| 1979 | #1,749 | 63 | 0.0039% |
| 1978 | #1,778 | 58 | 0.0038% |
| 1977 | #2,083 | 46 | 0.0030% |
| 1976 | #2,019 | 44 | 0.0030% |
| 1975 | #2,265 | 37 | 0.0025% |
| 1974 | #2,662 | 28 | 0.0019% |
| 1973 | #2,886 | 24 | 0.0016% |
| 1972 | #2,803 | 25 | 0.0016% |
| 1971 | #3,609 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1970 | #4,680 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1969 | #4,351 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1968 | #3,936 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1967 | #5,870 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1965 | #5,154 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1963 | #7,319 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1961 | #5,165 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1960 | #5,541 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1959 | #4,534 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1958 | #3,869 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1957 | #6,762 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1955 | #5,657 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1943 | #5,166 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1939 | #3,689 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1931 | #3,753 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1930 | #4,409 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1929 | #3,314 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1927 | #4,163 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1925 | #5,550 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1922 | #5,566 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1921 | #4,326 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1917 | #4,454 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1915 | #4,109 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #63 | 4,975 | 0.2913% |
| 2024 | #62 | 5,010 | 0.2921% |
| 2023 | #59 | 5,066 | 0.2965% |
| 2022 | #57 | 5,539 | 0.3175% |
| 2021 | #59 | 5,431 | 0.3107% |
| 2020 | #55 | 5,700 | 0.3304% |
| 2019 | #55 | 6,087 | 0.3394% |
| 2018 | #48 | 6,850 | 0.3773% |
| 2017 | #45 | 7,441 | 0.4021% |
| 2016 | #43 | 8,000 | 0.4217% |
| 2015 | #38 | 8,599 | 0.4487% |
| 2014 | #38 | 8,995 | 0.4684% |
| 2013 | #31 | 9,721 | 0.5140% |
| 2012 | #29 | 10,431 | 0.5500% |
| 2011 | #28 | 10,522 | 0.5541% |
| 2010 | #27 | 11,378 | 0.5931% |
| 2009 | #25 | 12,135 | 0.6119% |
| 2008 | #21 | 13,262 | 0.6501% |
| 2007 | #24 | 13,604 | 0.6555% |
| 2006 | #23 | 14,278 | 0.6948% |
| 2005 | #20 | 14,364 | 0.7192% |
| 2004 | #20 | 14,633 | 0.7373% |
| 2003 | #26 | 13,667 | 0.6919% |
| 2002 | #28 | 13,225 | 0.6812% |
| 2001 | #31 | 12,647 | 0.6510% |
| 2000 | #30 | 13,039 | 0.6639% |
| 1999 | #32 | 12,537 | 0.6529% |
| 1998 | #34 | 11,586 | 0.6062% |
| 1997 | #34 | 10,443 | 0.5540% |
| 1996 | #37 | 10,285 | 0.5430% |
| 1995 | #39 | 10,306 | 0.5414% |
| 1994 | #40 | 10,381 | 0.5373% |
| 1993 | #41 | 10,197 | 0.5199% |
| 1992 | #44 | 10,150 | 0.5082% |
| 1991 | #42 | 10,498 | 0.5196% |
| 1990 | #44 | 10,936 | 0.5324% |
| 1989 | #43 | 10,907 | 0.5451% |
| 1988 | #44 | 10,154 | 0.5305% |
| 1987 | #45 | 9,910 | 0.5308% |
| 1986 | #43 | 9,996 | 0.5428% |
| 1985 | #40 | 10,652 | 0.5763% |
| 1984 | #38 | 10,613 | 0.5880% |
| 1983 | #40 | 10,558 | 0.5889% |
| 1982 | #36 | 10,806 | 0.5955% |
| 1981 | #36 | 11,258 | 0.6285% |
| 1980 | #36 | 11,140 | 0.6244% |
| 1979 | #37 | 10,721 | 0.6227% |
| 1978 | #36 | 9,892 | 0.6024% |
| 1977 | #36 | 9,888 | 0.6017% |
| 1976 | #39 | 8,609 | 0.5486% |
| 1975 | #45 | 7,069 | 0.4527% |
| 1974 | #52 | 5,846 | 0.3718% |
| 1973 | #63 | 4,735 | 0.3038% |
| 1972 | #79 | 3,514 | 0.2167% |
| 1971 | #104 | 3,048 | 0.1723% |
| 1970 | #130 | 2,546 | 0.1370% |
| 1969 | #154 | 1,908 | 0.1067% |
| 1968 | #163 | 1,655 | 0.0952% |
| 1967 | #180 | 1,432 | 0.0821% |
| 1966 | #179 | 1,423 | 0.0798% |
| 1965 | #182 | 1,418 | 0.0762% |
| 1964 | #189 | 1,499 | 0.0752% |
| 1963 | #194 | 1,541 | 0.0759% |
| 1962 | #198 | 1,532 | 0.0741% |
| 1961 | #199 | 1,491 | 0.0702% |
| 1960 | #190 | 1,628 | 0.0764% |
| 1959 | #207 | 1,378 | 0.0646% |
| 1958 | #214 | 1,237 | 0.0583% |
| 1957 | #215 | 1,225 | 0.0568% |
| 1956 | #223 | 1,099 | 0.0520% |
| 1955 | #232 | 950 | 0.0461% |
| 1954 | #225 | 959 | 0.0470% |
| 1953 | #237 | 806 | 0.0409% |
| 1952 | #229 | 851 | 0.0438% |
| 1951 | #222 | 870 | 0.0462% |
| 1950 | #243 | 752 | 0.0420% |
| 1949 | #251 | 660 | 0.0372% |
| 1948 | #263 | 620 | 0.0353% |
| 1947 | #273 | 617 | 0.0337% |
| 1946 | #271 | 557 | 0.0343% |
| 1945 | #267 | 488 | 0.0363% |
| 1944 | #262 | 507 | 0.0372% |
| 1943 | #244 | 581 | 0.0407% |
| 1942 | #253 | 523 | 0.0379% |
| 1941 | #243 | 527 | 0.0429% |
| 1940 | #243 | 497 | 0.0429% |
| 1939 | #247 | 467 | 0.0422% |
| 1938 | #232 | 516 | 0.0465% |
| 1937 | #258 | 434 | 0.0407% |
| 1936 | #243 | 464 | 0.0447% |
| 1935 | #248 | 468 | 0.0449% |
| 1934 | #245 | 469 | 0.0454% |
| 1933 | #259 | 413 | 0.0417% |
| 1932 | #243 | 486 | 0.0465% |
| 1931 | #258 | 442 | 0.0425% |
| 1930 | #234 | 540 | 0.0492% |
| 1929 | #239 | 513 | 0.0477% |
| 1928 | #235 | 548 | 0.0495% |
| 1927 | #210 | 636 | 0.0564% |
| 1926 | #206 | 669 | 0.0602% |
| 1925 | #219 | 615 | 0.0551% |
| 1924 | #204 | 680 | 0.0600% |
| 1923 | #187 | 739 | 0.0674% |
| 1922 | #185 | 749 | 0.0688% |
| 1921 | #186 | 751 | 0.0682% |
| 1920 | #172 | 815 | 0.0766% |
| 1919 | #156 | 849 | 0.0866% |
| 1918 | #150 | 945 | 0.0932% |
| 1917 | #148 | 881 | 0.0952% |
| 1916 | #143 | 904 | 0.1016% |
| 1915 | #139 | 916 | 0.1079% |
| 1914 | #124 | 848 | 0.1295% |
| 1913 | #127 | 615 | 0.1200% |
| 1912 | #120 | 581 | 0.1351% |
| 1911 | #109 | 348 | 0.1540% |
| 1910 | #135 | 245 | 0.1262% |
| 1909 | #130 | 209 | 0.1274% |
| 1908 | #137 | 178 | 0.1153% |
| 1907 | #136 | 176 | 0.1199% |
| 1906 | #139 | 148 | 0.1111% |
| 1905 | #131 | 168 | 0.1270% |
| 1904 | #148 | 131 | 0.1022% |
| 1903 | #128 | 146 | 0.1225% |
| 1902 | #136 | 143 | 0.1166% |
| 1901 | #128 | 131 | 0.1230% |
| 1900 | #126 | 186 | 0.1236% |
| 1899 | #141 | 112 | 0.1055% |
| 1898 | #167 | 99 | 0.0807% |
| 1897 | #119 | 139 | 0.1233% |
| 1896 | #152 | 110 | 0.0920% |
| 1895 | #136 | 119 | 0.1014% |
| 1894 | #126 | 127 | 0.1097% |
| 1893 | #132 | 114 | 0.1015% |
| 1892 | #118 | 144 | 0.1180% |
| 1891 | #131 | 106 | 0.1048% |
| 1890 | #130 | 110 | 0.0991% |
| 1889 | #117 | 121 | 0.1094% |
| 1888 | #124 | 129 | 0.1067% |
| 1887 | #125 | 106 | 0.1045% |
| 1886 | #115 | 136 | 0.1228% |
| 1885 | #132 | 103 | 0.0955% |
| 1884 | #141 | 100 | 0.0874% |
| 1883 | #132 | 93 | 0.0889% |
| 1882 | #124 | 113 | 0.0994% |
| 1881 | #136 | 91 | 0.0903% |
| 1880 | #115 | 114 | 0.1032% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Nathan
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
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How the Name Nathan Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have a vivid imagination who can bring inspired messages to the world. You like to enjoy the pleasures of life, and when self is overcome, you can rise to the heights. You have an ability to avoid trouble - that is why you often fails to learn from experiences. You are restless, sociable people-oriented, a lover of change, and a seeker of adventure and new thrills. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
Dependable, very down-to-earth and well grounded, you are always looking for meaningful work, a career where you can take pride in your work and do the best job you are capable of. Your prime desire is to build protected and secure environment at home and at work. You can be very persuasive in achieving goals and gaining objectives. You can be very detailed and well-organized and possess great organizational skills. At times you may appear too stubborn and overly critical to others, but your practical approach to life and productivity makes you one of the most beneficent members of community.
✦ Nathan's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Nathan's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.