Ethan Name Meaning

Leah Campbell
·3 min read

Ethan is frequently a boy name. Learn more about the meaning, origin, and popularity of the name Ethan.

Fact checked by Karen Cilli

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.



<p>Tetra Images / Getty Images</p>

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:

Similar Names

If you're considering similar names to Ethan, some other boy names from the Old Testament include:

  • Aaron

  • Abel

  • Abraham

  • Caleb

  • Daniel

  • Elijah

  • Isaac

  • Jacob

  • Jonah

  • Michael

  • Noah

  • Samson

  • Seth

If the origin isn't as important, and you're looking for similar names that start with "E," consider these:

  • Easton

  • Eddie

  • Edward

  • Eldon

  • Elisha

  • Elliot

  • Elvin

  • Emmitt

  • Emory

  • Enrique

  • Ezra

Related: 300 Baby Names That End in A, N, and Y

Suggested Sibling Names

Potential sibling names for baby Ethan could be:

  • Amelia

  • Avery

  • Benjamin

  • Camila

  • Charlotte

  • Cody

  • Daniel

  • Dylan

  • Ella

  • Everleigh

  • Harper

  • Henry

  • Jackson

  • Norah

Related: 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 Frankie

  • Ethan 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 series

  • Ethan Edwards, a character from the Marvel comic book series

  • Ethan 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:



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Read the original article on Parents.