Baby Names Boy Names Ethan Name Meaning Ethan is frequently a boy name. Learn more about the meaning, origin, and popularity of the name Ethan. By Leah Campbell Published on April 10, 2024 Fact checked by Karen Cilli In This Article View All In This Article How Popular Is the Name Ethan? Name Variations Similar Names Suggested Sibling Names Famous People Named Ethan Fictional Characters Named Ethan Close The name Ethan is Hebrew in origin and most often means "strong," "safe," "solid," and "firm." These are characteristics seen in Ethan, "the Ezrahite," from the Bible. He is also viewed as being wise. Ethan is a name with enduring strength and popularity, appearing everywhere from the Mission: Impossible movies to the well-known furniture chain. Read on to learn more about the name Ethan, its popularity, variations, and suggested sibling names. Origin: Ethan comes from the Hebrew name Eitan and is featured in the Old Testament.Gender: Ethan is traditionally a boy's name. Pronunciation: EE-than (English), EH-TAN (French) Editor's Note Although many baby names are separated by gender, Parents believes that gender 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. Tetra Images / Getty Images How Popular Is the Name Ethan? The name Ethan has been in the top 100 most popular names in the United States since 1989. Between 2001 and 2021, it ranked in the top 20. However, its popularity hasn’t been steady. Ethan was just barely a top 1,000 most popular boy name in 1901, scraping in at 985. The following year, it fell off the list and remained unpopular for over 50 years until 1952, when it reentered the list at 996. In 2022, Ethan fell out of the top 20 most popular names, ranking as the 21st most popular name given to boys. In 2009 and 2010, Ethan was at its height of popularity, coming in at number 2. Jacob beat it out in both years as the number one boy name. Name Variations There are quite a few variations of the name Ethan in other languages and countries, including: Aithan (Greek) Eitan (Hebrew) Eytan (Hebrew) Izan (Spanish) Similar Names If you're considering similar names to Ethan, some other boy names from the Old Testament include: AaronAbelAbrahamCalebDanielElijahIsaacJacobJonahMichaelNoahSamsonSeth If the origin isn't as important, and you're looking for similar names that start with "E," consider these: EastonEddieEdwardEldon ElishaElliotElvinEmmittEmoryEnriqueEzra 300 Baby Names That End in A, N, and Y Suggested Sibling Names Potential sibling names for baby Ethan could be: AmeliaAveryBenjaminCamilaCharlotteCodyDanielDylan EllaEverleighHarperHenryJacksonNorah How To Choose a First, Middle, and Last Name for Your Baby Famous People Named Ethan With the popularity of the name Ethan, it stands to reason there will be many more famous Ethans to come. But for now, there are a few notable figures (and even one notable brand) that hold this name: Ethan Allen, a furniture brand, also a historical figure (a soldier from the Revolutionary War)Ethan Embry, an actor perhaps most well known for his role as Coyote on the TV series Grace and FrankieEthan Hawke, actor (and parent to Stranger Things actor Maya Hawke) known for the movies Dead Poet's Society, Reality Bites, and Boyhood Fictional Characters Named Ethan Some fictional characters with the name Ethan include: Ethan Hunt, the protagonist from the Mission: Impossible movie seriesEthan Edwards, a character from the Marvel comic book seriesEthan Rom, a character from the TV series Lost More Baby Names Still searching for the perfect baby name? Check out these related baby name lists for even more options: 50 Constellation Baby Names 50 Literature Baby Names 50 Unique Baby Names Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources Parents 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. Ethan. Dictionary.com. n.d. Get ready for baby: Popularity of a name. Social Security Administration. n.d.