How to say it
NA · than
ˈneɪ.θən
Masculine
Nathan
He gave
What it means
Hebrew Natan, 'he gave' (implying God gave). The prophet Nathan in the Old Testament confronted King David over Bathsheba.
Nathan comes from the Hebrew Natan ('he gave'), short for theophoric names like Nathaniel ('God has given') or Jonathan ('Yahweh has given'). In the Second Book of Samuel, the prophet Nathan confronts King David with the parable of the rich man and the poor man's lamb after David's affair with Bathsheba; it's one of the most famous moral confrontations in the Hebrew Bible. The name surged with the broader biblical-name revival of the 1970s through the 1990s. Nate is the universal short.
How to spell Nathan
The standard spelling is Nathan. Common variants include Nathaniel, Nat, Natan, but Nathan is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #20 in 2004, currently #63 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
- Nickname
Nate is universal. Nathaniel is a longer formal form; many Nathans use the short Nathan as the formal name itself.
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.
- Nathan (Bible) Prophet who confronted King David over Bathsheba
- Nathan Lane Actor, The Producers and Modern Family
- Nathan Hale Revolutionary War soldier hanged by the British in 1776 ('I regret that I have but one life to give')
Spelling variants
- Nathaniel
- Nat
- Natan
Names with the same feeling
See Nathan from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Nathan mean?
- Hebrew Natan, 'he gave' (implying God gave). The prophet Nathan in the Old Testament confronted King David over Bathsheba.
- What does Nathan mean in Hebrew?
- In Hebrew, Nathan means "He gave." Nathan comes from the Hebrew Natan ('he gave'), short for theophoric names like Nathaniel ('God has given') or Jonathan ('Yahweh has given'). In the Second Book of Samuel, the prophet Nathan confronts King David with the parable of the rich man and the poor man's lamb after David's affair with Bathsheba; it's one of the most famous moral confrontations in the Hebrew Bible. The name surged with the broader biblical-name revival of the 1970s through the 1990s. Nate is the universal short.
- How do you pronounce Nathan?
- Nathan is pronounced ˈneɪ.θən. Say it as NA-than, with the stress on the "na" syllable.
- How do you spell Nathan?
- The standard spelling is Nathan. Common spelling variants include Nathaniel, Nat, Natan.
- Is Nathan a boy or girl name?
- Nathan is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Nathan?
- Nathan ranked #63 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.