Ethan
Say it: EE-than/ˈiːθən/
BoyMeans firm, strong5 letters2 syllables
#51
in Ireland (2025)
#53 with spellings combined
102
babies in 2025
#30
best rank (2012)
4,754
babies since 1989
Down 13
10-year rank change
Ethan through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 102 | #53 |
| 2024 | 105 | #54 |
| 2023 | 127 | #46 |
| 2022 | 141 | #46 |
| 2021 | 135 | #53 |
| 2020 | 128 | #49 |
| 2019 | 168 | #35 |
| 2018 | 185 | #37 |
| 2017 | 186 | #35 |
| 2016 | 190 | #41 |
| 2015 | 181 | #40 |
| 2014 | 234 | #31 |
| 2013 | 211 | #36 |
| 2012 | 268 | #30 |
| 2011 | 253 | #31 |
| 2010 | 272 | #34 |
| 2009 | 200 | #45 |
| 2008 | 170 | #53 |
| 2007 | 176 | #46 |
| 2006 | 139 | #54 |
| 2005 | 151 | #49 |
| 2004 | 160 | #47 |
| 2003 | 141 | #44 |
| 2002 | 128 | #50 |
| 2001 | 135 | #51 |
| 2000 | 83 | #71 |
| 1999 | 76 | #76 |
| 1998 | 53 | #83 |
| 1997 | 39 | #117 |
| 1996 | 38 | #125 |
| 1995 | 19 | #159 |
| 1994 | 28 | #135 |
| 1993 | 27 | #138 |
| 1992 | 36 | #127 |
| 1991 | 27 | #142 |
| 1990 | 34 | #126 |
| 1989 | 8 | #208 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Ethan mean?
Firm, strong
Hebrew, from Eitan (firm, enduring).
Say it right
EEthan
The story of Ethan
Ethan comes from the Hebrew Eitan, meaning firm, strong or long-lasting. It appears several times in the Hebrew Bible, most notably for Ethan the Ezrahite, a wise man to whom one of the psalms is credited.
As a given name it was used mostly in America from the eighteenth century, and it spread widely across the English-speaking world in the 2000s.
Ethan reached the CSO list in 1989. It peaked in 2010 with 272 babies. Its best rank was number 30 in 2012. It has been much more popular in Northern Ireland, where it was 4th in 2011.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Ethan (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Ethan (given name)
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, Baby names in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Ethan | 102 | 4,754 |
In Northern Ireland
#32 in 2025 with 54 babies. Best rank #4 (2011); 3,872 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.