Evan Name Meaning

Updated on June 10, 2022

Fact checked by Marley Hall

toddler boy with big eyes and a smile — Capuski / Getty Images

Evan is a popular Welsh name meaning "the Lord is gracious." A version of the English name John, and the Spanish name Juan, Evan has Hebrew origins. The word evan, itself, means "rock" in Hebrew. Evan is also the shortened version of the Greek names Evangelos, meaning "good messenger" and Evander, meaning "good man."

When you imagine an Evan he (or she) might be sporty, creative, clever, funny, a friend to many. Perhaps you imagine someone 'Godly,' like Evan Almighty. The name Evan is not only classic but it's quite versatile.

Origin: Welsh/Hebrew
Gender: Evan is most often given as a boy's name.
Pronunciation: EH - v uh n

Although many baby names are separated by gender, Verywell Family believes that sex does not need to play a role in your name selection process. It’s important to select a name that you feel suits your new baby the best.

How Popular is the Name Evan?

The name Evan has been widely used in Wales since the 19th century. As a boy's name, Evan has been a consistent choice, growing in popularity over the years and placing in the top 100 in 1983 (when it sat at 93rd place). In 2009, Evan reached 35th on the charts, which was its peak position. As a girl's name, Evan is not particularly popular. It has never been in the top 100 names for girls and is considered to be a rare choice.

Name Variations

There are quite a few variations of the name Evan in other languages and countries, including:

Hans (German)
Ian (Scottish/Gaelic)
Iain (Scottish/Gaelic)
Ivan (Slavic)
Evander (Greek)
Evangelos (Greek)
Giovanni (Italian)
John (English)
Juan (Spanish)

Similar Names

Here are some names that have a similar vibe to Evan:

Aiden
Andrew
Braiden
Caleb
Cole
Ethan
Gabe
Gavin
Jaden
Landon
Liam
Nathan
Owen
Zach

Here are some other Welsh baby names for boys (or girls):

Aled
Cai
Cain
Dafydd
Daryn
Dylan
Elis
Gareth
Maddox
Owen
Reece
Tomos
Trenton
Tristan

Other boy names that start with ‘E’ include:

Earl
Eddie
Eden
Edward
Eldon
Elijah
Elliot
Elroy
Elvin
Emmitt
Emory
Enrique
Eric
Ezra

Suggested Sibling Names

Potential sibling names for baby Evan could be:

Audrey
Ava
Baxter
Cali
Charlie
Conner
Cora
Daniel
Ella
Eliza
Everleigh
Hannah
Henry
Jacob
Jared
Nadia
Margo

Famous People Named Evan

Evan Alexander, American politician
Evan Bayh, American politician
Evan Baylis, American football player
Evan Berry, American football player
Evan Brown, American football player
Evan Dara, American novelist
Evan Goldberg, Canadian screenwriter, film producer and director
Evan Meek, American baseball player
Evan Kauffmann, German-American ice hockey player
Evan Rachel Wood, American actress

Still searching for the perfect baby name? Check out these related baby name lists for even more options:

1 Source

Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Social Security Administration. Popular baby names.

By Shannon Day
Shannon Day is a freelance writer specializing in parenting, lifestyle, and women's humor. She has been published in several online parenting and lifestyle sites as well as in print. Shannon is also the co-author of Martinis & Motherhood: Tales of Wonder, Woe & WTF?!

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