Evan
Say it: EV-an/ˈɛ.vən/
BoyMeans god is gracious4 letters2 syllables
#80
in Ireland (2025)
#83 with spellings combined
76
babies in 2025
#23
best rank (2007)
7,796
babies since 1969
Down 48
10-year rank change
Evan through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 76 | #83 |
| 2024 | 90 | #66 |
| 2023 | 104 | #60 |
| 2022 | 116 | #57 |
| 2021 | 116 | #60 |
| 2020 | 123 | #51 |
| 2019 | 121 | #57 |
| 2018 | 163 | #44 |
| 2017 | 167 | #45 |
| 2016 | 216 | #34 |
| 2015 | 207 | #35 |
| 2014 | 224 | #32 |
| 2013 | 214 | #34 |
| 2012 | 278 | #29 |
| 2011 | 298 | #27 |
| 2010 | 314 | #27 |
| 2009 | 333 | #24 |
| 2008 | 317 | #25 |
| 2007 | 360 | #23 |
| 2006 | 364 | #25 |
| 2005 | 324 | #25 |
| 2004 | 337 | #25 |
| 2003 | 303 | #26 |
| 2002 | 245 | #29 |
| 2001 | 248 | #30 |
| 2000 | 250 | #27 |
| 1999 | 208 | #34 |
| 1998 | 188 | #32 |
| 1997 | 197 | #44 |
| 1996 | 222 | #38 |
| 1995 | 184 | #41 |
| 1994 | 131 | #56 |
| 1993 | 104 | #66 |
| 1992 | 95 | #71 |
| 1991 | 84 | #72 |
| 1990 | 54 | #98 |
| 1989 | 42 | #112 |
| 1988 | 30 | #133 |
| 1987 | 34 | #125 |
| 1986 | 29 | #135 |
| 1985 | 35 | #122 |
| 1984 | 26 | #137 |
| 1983 | 27 | #140 |
| 1982 | 23 | #147 |
| 1981 | 10 | #206 |
| 1980 | 24 | #142 |
| 1979 | 17 | #166 |
| 1978 | 22 | #150 |
| 1977 | 18 | #166 |
| 1976 | 18 | #167 |
| 1975 | 14 | #186 |
| 1974 | 15 | #182 |
| 1973 | 9 | #215 |
| 1972 | 12 | #186 |
| 1971 | 8 | #217 |
| 1970 | 5 | #251 |
| 1969 | 3 | #291 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Evan mean?
God is gracious
Welsh, an English form of Ifan or Iefan, Welsh forms of John.
Say it right
EVan
The story of Evan
Evan is a Welsh name, an English spelling of Ifan or Iefan, the Welsh forms of John. Through John it goes back to the Hebrew Yochanan, “God is gracious”, which makes it a cousin of Seán, Ian and Ivan. The common Welsh surname Evans comes from the same name.
It is occasionally given to girls elsewhere, as with the American actor Evan Rachel Wood, but in Ireland it is a boys’ name.
Evan first reached the CSO list in 1969. It took off in the 1990s and has been in the top 100 every year since 1990. The most boys were named Evan in 2006, 364 of them, and its best rank came a year later, at number 23 in 2007. It has been much less common in Northern Ireland, where its best place was 79th in 2010.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Evan (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Evan
- 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Evan | 76 | 7,796 |
In Northern Ireland
#237 in 2025 with 8 babies. Best rank #79 (2010); 592 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.