Ethan Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Ethan is a Hebrew name that means 'strong' or 'enduring.' Its historical roots trace back to the biblical figure known for wisdom. The name has evolved from its Hebrew form 'Eytan' to the modern English 'Ethan.' It gained popularity in the late 20th century and is associated with positive traits such as strength and intelligence. The name has significant biblical relevance, highlighting wisdom.
The name Ethan is most popular in Nevada, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is declining in usage, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been gradually declining. From 2020-2022, Ethan has been too rising for male in MidWest, too rising for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, too rising for male in South, stalled for female in South, too rising for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been too rising for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, too rising for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Ethan' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1485th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1447th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 883rd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 383rd out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 112th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 11th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 11th out of 23106 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 8671st out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 4496th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 8605th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Ethan' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Ethan"
Pronunciation
/ˈiːθən/
Origin
Hebrew
Etymology
The name Ethan comes from the Hebrew word 'eytan,' which means 'firm' or 'enduring.' It appears in the Old Testament as a name associated with wisdom and strength.
Meaning
strong, firm, enduring
Language Evolution
Eytan (Hebrew), Ethan (English)
Biblical Background
Ethan is mentioned in the Bible as a wise man in the days of King Solomon, known for his wisdom and understanding.
Historical Usage
Ethan gained popularity in the English-speaking world in the late 20th century, becoming a favored name in the United States and other countries.
Variants & Derivatives
Eytan, Eitan
Modern Popularity & Image
Ethan is currently perceived as a strong and modern name, often associated with intelligence and resilience.
Famous People
Ethan Hawke - American actor and director, Ethan Allen - American revolutionary war hero, Ethan Frome - fictional character in a novel by Edith Wharton
Explore More Ethan Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Ethan"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Ethan"
"Ethan" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1485th of 7545 | 391 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1447th of 6773 | 411 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 883rd of 7552 | 1,342 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 383rd of 10718 | 6,937 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 112th of 16616 | 46,925 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 11th of 24088 | 284,020 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 11th of 23106 | 139,364 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 8671st of 27321 | 122 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 4496th of 35406 | 477 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 8605th of 30306 | 149 |
Regional Popularity of "Ethan" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
74.79% 1059th/1416 |
- | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
73.67% 1139th/1546 |
52.70% 820th/1556 |
- | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
38.62% 860th/2227 |
24.40% 593rd/2430 |
53.38% 1523rd/2853 |
28.86% 801st/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
12.56% 369th/2937 |
8.01% 279th/3483 |
15.41% 542nd/3518 |
8.04% 325th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
2.55% 94th/3685 |
2.41% 108th/4475 |
2.16% 112th/5194 |
2.39% 151st/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
0.11% 5th/4582 |
0.37% 19th/5164 |
0.15% 11th/7313 |
0.17% 13th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
0.58% 23rd/3984 |
0.22% 10th/4487 |
0.15% 10th/6822 |
0.11% 7th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Ethan" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- |
61.33% 3167th/5164 |
43.35% 3170th/7313 |
- |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Ethan"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Ethan" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.