Nathan
Say it: NAY-than/ˈneɪθən/
BoyMeans he gave6 letters2 syllables
#71
in Ireland (2025)
#74 with spellings combined
82
babies in 2025
#26
best rank (1999)
6,817
babies since 1968
Down 42
10-year rank change
Nathan through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 82 | #74 |
| 2024 | 83 | #73 |
| 2023 | 100 | #63 |
| 2022 | 108 | #62 |
| 2021 | 109 | #65 |
| 2020 | 110 | #58 |
| 2019 | 107 | #62 |
| 2018 | 150 | #49 |
| 2017 | 187 | #34 |
| 2016 | 192 | #39 |
| 2015 | 231 | #32 |
| 2014 | 255 | #29 |
| 2013 | 236 | #31 |
| 2012 | 295 | #26 |
| 2011 | 282 | #29 |
| 2010 | 297 | #30 |
| 2009 | 253 | #32 |
| 2008 | 245 | #34 |
| 2007 | 215 | #37 |
| 2006 | 255 | #32 |
| 2005 | 296 | #28 |
| 2004 | 271 | #29 |
| 2003 | 275 | #28 |
| 2002 | 258 | #27 |
| 2001 | 242 | #32 |
| 2000 | 223 | #32 |
| 1999 | 245 | #26 |
| 1998 | 178 | #36 |
| 1997 | 174 | #47 |
| 1996 | 161 | #51 |
| 1995 | 142 | #53 |
| 1994 | 104 | #64 |
| 1993 | 102 | #67 |
| 1992 | 71 | #84 |
| 1991 | 58 | #97 |
| 1990 | 38 | #116 |
| 1989 | 23 | #149 |
| 1988 | 23 | #145 |
| 1987 | 13 | #181 |
| 1986 | 14 | #172 |
| 1985 | 13 | #177 |
| 1984 | 7 | #224 |
| 1983 | 8 | #214 |
| 1982 | 15 | #171 |
| 1981 | 9 | #217 |
| 1980 | 11 | #205 |
| 1979 | 8 | #228 |
| 1978 | 9 | #212 |
| 1977 | 11 | #200 |
| 1976 | 5 | #258 |
| 1975 | 5 | #265 |
| 1974 | 6 | #251 |
| 1973 | 4 | #290 |
| 1968 | 3 | #267 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Nathan mean?
He gave
Hebrew Natan, from a verb meaning to give.
Say it right
NAYthan
The story of Nathan
Nathan comes from the Hebrew Natan, meaning “he gave”. In the Old Testament Nathan is the prophet who advises King David and later confronts him over Bathsheba. It is also used as a short form of Jonathan, a Hebrew name built on the same verb. Nate and Nat are the usual short forms.
It became a popular choice across the English-speaking world from the 1980s.
Nathan first reached the CSO list in 1968. It rose quickly in the 1990s, reaching its best rank of number 26 in 1999, and has been in the top 100 every year since 1991. The most boys were named Nathan in 2010, 297 of them. It was even more popular in Northern Ireland, where it reached 15th in 2000.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Nathan (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Nathan (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
Nicknames
NateNat
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Nathan | 82 | 6,817 |
In Northern Ireland
#138 in 2025 with 17 babies. Best rank #15 (2000); 2,418 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.