Nathan Name Meaning

The name Nathan has ties to both Nathaniel and Jonathan, with all three names meaning something similar to “Gift of God” or “God has given.” In the Old Testament, Nathan was a prophet and one of King David’s sons; he acted as a messenger to King David and is considered one of Jesus’ ancestors.

How Popular Is the Name Nathan?

Nathan is popular in Europe, often ranking in the top 100 boys' names in countries like France and Belgium, but it’s also quite popular here in the U.S., too. It has remained in the top 100 boys' names since 1972, per the Social Security Administration’s rankings. In fact, the name hit No. 45 in 1975, and it never dipped below No. 50 again until just two years ago, in 2019.

Although it's unclear why the name Nathan became so popular in the '70s, it is interesting to note that the annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, hosted by Coney Island institution Nathan’s Famous, had its inaugural contest in 1972 to much fanfare and publicity. It’s possible that event had something to do with putting Nathan on the radar—and it has stayed popular ever since, thanks to its immense likability.

Name Variations 

While Nathan actually remains the same across a variety of languages, there are a few variations including:

• Natan (Hebrew)
• Nathanael (French)
• Nathaniel (Greek or Hebrew)
• Neizan (Spanish)
• Nosson (Yiddish)

Similar Names 

Other Hebrew boy names include:

• Aaron
• Adam
• Benjamin
• David
• Elijah
• Isaac
• Jacob
• Joshua
• Levi
• Noah
• Simon

Other boy names with two syllables include:

• Brandon
• Caleb
• Ethan
• Jackson
• Logan
• Michael
• Phillip
• Robert
• Thomas
• Warren

Common Nicknames

Because Nathan is already a fairly easy-to-say name, it doesn’t lend itself to many nicknames. But if you choose the name Nathan, you can call your child Nat or Nate for short.

Suggested Sibling Names

Looking for a sibling name for Nathan? Here are some popular options:

• Abigail
• Charlotte
• Cillian
• Gabriel
• Lucas
• Molly
• Nora
• Oliver
• Owen
• Rebecca
• Sarah
• Sawyer

Famous People Named Nathan

Nathan is a name that never goes out of style or dates itself, so it’s no surprise that Nathans have popped up throughout history in many fields. From popular actor, Nathan Fillion, to Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs, the name can be found just about everywhere. Famous Nathans include:

• Nathan (Nate) Berkus, American interior designer
• Nathan Fielder, writer and comedian
• Nathan Hale, American soldier, and spy during the Revolutionary War
• Nathan Handwerker, founder of Nathan’s Famous
• Nathan Kress, Nickelodeon actor
• Nathan Lane, an actor known for the Broadway musical “The Producers”
• Nathan Fillion, actor known for TV shows such as “Castle” and “The Rookie”

Fictional Nathans:

• Prince Nathan, son of the title character in the comic strip “Prince Valiant”
• Nathan Detroit, the lead character in Broadway musical “Guys and Dolls”
• Nathan Drake, main character in the “Uncharted” video game series
• Nathan Petrelli, ensemble character in NBC TV show “Heroes”