Ethan
Meaningfirm, enduring · Hebrew
- US rank
- #24
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #2 in 2010
7,852 babies were named Ethan in the US in 2025. It has dropped 11 places in five years.
Found on lists
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million boys, 1882–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Ethan you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Ethan
Ethan Hawke
American actor and writer (born 1970)
Choose Ethan and your child shares a first name with Ethan Hawke, an American actor and writer. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Ethan, like who?” Ethan Hawke's Wikipedia article is available in 81 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Ethan Hawke on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: Harald Krichel, CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 218 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Ethan, 7,852 babies in all. In a school of 500 kids, there'd probably be one other Ethan.
- HistoryEthan first shows up in US birth records in 1882, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 143 years since.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 2010, when it ranked #2. Today it's #24, so it could be due a comeback.
- Where it's lovedEthan is most popular in Maryland, where it ranks #7, followed by New York (#10) and California (#12). It makes the top 1,000 in almost every state.
- MeaningIn Hebrew, Ethan means “firm, enduring”.
About the name Ethan
Ethan is a boy name of Hebrew origin meaning “firm, enduring”. It has 5 letters and 2 syllables, starting with E and ending in “-han”. US birth records list Ethan for boys from 1882 to 2025, in 126 of those 144 years. Its best year was 2010, when it ranked #2 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #24, with 7,852 babies.
Origin:Hebrew names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 34 | 29,390 boys |
| 1890s | 27 | 36,792 boys |
| 1900s | 13 | 79,745 boys |
| 1910s | 26 | 37,836 boys |
| 1920s | 21 | 47,192 boys |
| 1930s | 21 | 46,948 boys |
| 1940s | 17 | 58,241 boys |
| 1950s | 27 | 37,051 boys |
| 1960s | 85 | 11,792 boys |
| 1970s | 324 | 3,085 boys |
| 1980s | 554 | 1,804 boys |
| 1990s | 3,447 | 290 boys |
| 2000s | 10,111 | 99 boys |
| 2010s | 7,911 | 126 boys |
| 2020s | 4,881 | 205 boys |
More Hebrew boy names
- Unisex name: Noah · rest, comfort
- Unisex name: James · supplanter
- Boy name: Elijah · my God is Yahweh
- Boy name: Mateo · gift of God
- Boy name: Benjamin · son of the right hand
- Boy name: Levi · joined, attached
- Unisex name: Elias · my God is Yahweh
- Boy name: Jack · God is gracious
Questions about the name Ethan
What does the name Ethan mean?
Ethan means “firm, enduring” in Hebrew.
What is the origin of the name Ethan?
Ethan has Hebrew roots in our records. Other Hebrew names include Noah, James, Elijah.
Is Ethan a boy or girl name?
Ethan is a boy name, though a few girls get it too.
How popular is the name Ethan?
Ethan ranked #24 for US boys in 2025, given to 7,852 babies. Its best year was 2010 (#2).