Ethan Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: EE-thən /ˈiːθən/
Origin: Hebrew; English
Meaning: Hebrew: strong; English: firm
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Ethan has its roots in the Hebrew language, derived from the word 'אֵיתָן' (Eitan), which means "firm," "enduring," or "strong." This name appears in the Hebrew Bible, where it is associated with a wise man named Ethan the Ezrahite, mentioned in the Book of Kings and attributed authorship of Psalm 89. The name was later transliterated into Greek as 'Ethan' (Ἠθάν), and subsequently adopted into Latin, which helped facilitate its entry into various European languages, including Old French, before finally becoming established in English during the Middle Ages.
Ethan's historical significance is underscored by its biblical connections, particularly through the character of Ethan the Ezrahite, who is recognized for his wisdom and contributions to biblical literature. The name appears in significant religious texts, including the King James Bible, which was published in the early 17th century and has had a profound influence on English literature and culture.
The enduring nature of the name can also be traced to its representation of strength and resilience, qualities that have made it appealing across different cultures and eras. Culturally, Ethan has been associated with themes of stability and reliability, resonating with various traditions that value these attributes.
The name has been used in literature and popular culture, reinforcing its positive connotations. Additionally, diminutive forms such as Eithan have been noted in some cultures, though Ethan remains the most recognized form.
Overall, the name Ethan carries a rich historical and cultural legacy, reflecting its deep roots in language and tradition.
Famous people named Ethan
In this section, you will find notable people named Ethan. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Ethan who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Ethan who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Ethan Hawke is an actor best known for Before Sunrise, Training Day, and Boyhood.
Ethan Allen is a military officer best known for leading the Green Mountain Boys during the American Revolutionary War.
Ethan Coen is a filmmaker best known for Fargo, The Big Lebowski, and No Country for Old Men.
Ethan Embry is an actor best known for Can't Hardly Wait, Empire Records, and That Thing You Do!.
Ethan Slater is an actor best known for his role in SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical, and the film The Last Goodbye.
Fictional characters named Ethan
The following list of fictional characters named Ethan is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Ethan Hunt is a fictional character from the film series Mission: Impossible. He is a secret agent known for his daring missions and resourcefulness in overcoming obstacles.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Ethan, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Ethan. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Ethan was first seen in the United States in 1882.
Ethan has ranked as high as #6 nationally, which occurred in 2004, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Florida, and Ohio.
In the past 5 years the name Ethan has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Ethan is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Ethan was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Ethan (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 1,262 | |
| TX | 1,045 | |
| NY | 727 | |
| FL | 646 | |
| GA | 271 | |
| IL | 266 | |
| PA | 265 | |
| VA | 233 | |
| NC | 219 | |
| MA | 205 | |
| WA | 195 | |
| OH | 180 | |
| MD | 175 | |
| MI | 141 | |
| TN | 134 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Ethan.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 8,170 |
| 2023 | 7,802 |
| 2022 | 8,308 |
| 2021 | 8,858 |
| 2020 | 9,551 |
| 2019 | 11,307 |
| 2018 | 11,930 |
| 2017 | 12,478 |
| 2016 | 13,854 |
| 2015 | 15,099 |
| 2014 | 15,748 |
| 2013 | 16,259 |
| 2012 | 17,694 |
| 2011 | 16,696 |
| 2010 | 18,017 |
| 2009 | 19,855 |
| 2008 | 20,221 |
| 2007 | 21,039 |
| 2006 | 20,522 |
| 2005 | 21,318 |
| 2004 | 22,210 |
| 2003 | 21,361 |
| 2002 | 22,112 |
| 2001 | 17,962 |
| 2000 | 15,225 |
| 1999 | 11,446 |
| 1998 | 10,536 |
| 1997 | 7,806 |
| 1996 | 5,853 |
| 1995 | 4,933 |
| 1994 | 4,165 |
| 1993 | 4,164 |
| 1992 | 4,905 |
| 1991 | 6,129 |
| 1990 | 6,989 |
| 1989 | 4,056 |
| 1988 | 895 |
| 1987 | 656 |
| 1986 | 599 |
| 1985 | 670 |
| 1984 | 729 |
| 1983 | 732 |
| 1982 | 715 |
| 1981 | 735 |
| 1980 | 708 |
| 1979 | 706 |
| 1978 | 629 |
| 1977 | 673 |
| 1976 | 563 |
| 1975 | 542 |
| 1974 | 524 |
| 1973 | 519 |
| 1972 | 513 |
| 1971 | 365 |
| 1970 | 268 |
| 1969 | 218 |
| 1968 | 170 |
| 1967 | 187 |
| 1966 | 169 |
| 1965 | 183 |
| 1964 | 202 |
| 1963 | 135 |
| 1962 | 132 |
| 1961 | 114 |
| 1960 | 94 |
| 1959 | 84 |
| 1958 | 73 |
| 1957 | 65 |
| 1956 | 62 |
| 1955 | 53 |
| 1954 | 64 |
| 1953 | 43 |
| 1952 | 52 |
| 1951 | 32 |
| 1950 | 26 |
| 1949 | 29 |
| 1948 | 29 |
| 1947 | 26 |
| 1946 | 27 |
| 1945 | 21 |
| 1944 | 28 |
| 1943 | 31 |
| 1942 | 21 |
| 1941 | 25 |
| 1940 | 17 |
| 1939 | 33 |
| 1938 | 20 |
| 1937 | 18 |
| 1936 | 23 |
| 1935 | 25 |
| 1934 | 20 |
| 1933 | 23 |
| 1932 | 19 |
| 1931 | 25 |
| 1930 | 19 |
| 1929 | 18 |
| 1928 | 25 |
| 1927 | 27 |
| 1926 | 27 |
| 1925 | 17 |
| 1924 | 14 |
| 1923 | 21 |
| 1922 | 27 |
| 1921 | 26 |
| 1920 | 31 |
| 1919 | 28 |
| 1918 | 25 |
| 1917 | 20 |
| 1916 | 23 |
| 1915 | 27 |
| 1914 | 25 |
| 1913 | 13 |
| 1912 | 16 |
| 1911 | 7 |
| 1909 | 6 |
| 1908 | 5 |
| 1901 | 6 |
| 1898 | 7 |
| 1896 | 9 |
| 1893 | 9 |
| 1891 | 6 |
| 1887 | 7 |
| 1886 | 6 |
| 1884 | 10 |
| 1882 | 7 |