How to say it
EE · than
ˈi.θən
Masculine
Ethan
Strong, enduring
What it means
From the Hebrew Eitan, meaning strong, firm, or enduring. A name about staying.
The biblical Ethan the Ezrahite was a sage whose wisdom is mentioned alongside Solomon's in 1 Kings. The name stayed quietly within Jewish tradition until American Puritans picked it up in the 17th century. Ethan Allen (1738 to 1789), the Vermont militia leader, pinned the name to Revolutionary American identity. The Mission Impossible character Ethan Hunt and the modern wave starting in the 1990s lifted Ethan into the US top five for boys for two decades. Currently still top fifteen. Nicknames are rare; the full name is what most Ethans go by.
How to spell Ethan
The standard spelling is Ethan. Common variants include Eitan, Ethen, Ethon, but Ethan is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #2 in 2009, currently #24 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pop culture
Ethan Hawke and Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt (Mission: Impossible) cover most of the modern cultural surface.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Ethan Hawke Actor and writer, Before Sunrise trilogy and Boyhood
- Ethan Hunt Tom Cruise's character in the Mission: Impossible series
Spelling variants
- Eitan
- Ethen
- Ethon
Names with the same feeling
See Ethan from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Ethan mean?
- From the Hebrew Eitan, meaning strong, firm, or enduring. A name about staying.
- What does Ethan mean in Hebrew?
- In Hebrew, Ethan means "Strong, enduring." The biblical Ethan the Ezrahite was a sage whose wisdom is mentioned alongside Solomon's in 1 Kings. The name stayed quietly within Jewish tradition until American Puritans picked it up in the 17th century. Ethan Allen (1738 to 1789), the Vermont militia leader, pinned the name to Revolutionary American identity. The Mission Impossible character Ethan Hunt and the modern wave starting in the 1990s lifted Ethan into the US top five for boys for two decades. Currently still top fifteen. Nicknames are rare; the full name is what most Ethans go by.
- How do you pronounce Ethan?
- Ethan is pronounced ˈi.θən. Say it as EE-than, with the stress on the "ee" syllable.
- How do you spell Ethan?
- The standard spelling is Ethan. Common spelling variants include Eitan, Ethen, Ethon.
- Is Ethan a boy or girl name?
- Ethan is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Ethan?
- Ethan ranked #24 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.