Evan
Evan was the 153rd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 2,412 babies. Its best year was 2009, when it ranked 35th; the most babies were born in 2007 (10,295). Over the last ten years it has moved down 86 places. More babies were named Evan in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Meaning God is gracious (Welsh form of John) · Welsh, Hebrew
Say it EV-uhn /ˈɛvən/
- Rank in 2025
- #153 boys, down 48 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 2,412boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 200710,295 babies
- Total since 1880
- 292,426babies recorded
What does the name Evan mean?
Evan is the English spelling of Welsh Ifan or Iefan, Welsh forms of John. John goes back through Latin Iohannes and Greek Ioannes to Hebrew Yochanan, 'God is gracious', which DMNES glosses 'graced by God'. The common surname Evans comes from it. Wikipedia notes that Evan is occasionally used as a short form of Greek names like Evangelos, and that it is sometimes given to girls.
Ifan (Welsh, “John”)יוֹחָנָן (Biblical Hebrew, “Yochanan, God is gracious”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Related names: John, Ifan, Ieuan, Evans, Ivan, Owen.
See also: Hebrew names, names that mean God, names that mean grace.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Evan', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wikipedia, 'Evan', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'John', Durham University / The DMNES Editors
Evan popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 4,725 since 1915, 50 in 2025.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #153 | 2,412 |
| 2020 | #105 | 3,418 |
| 2010 | #36 | 9,732 |
| 2000 | #55 | 7,334 |
| 1990 | #71 | 5,308 |
| 1980 | #159 | 1,623 |
| 1970 | #323 | 596 |
| 1960 | #371 | 451 |
| 1950 | #459 | 208 |
| 1940 | #518 | 126 |
| 1930 | #532 | 126 |
| 1920 | #482 | 159 |
| 1910 | #503 | 31 |
| 1900 | #472 | 24 |
| 1890 | #379 | 22 |
| 1880 | #364 | 22 |
How popular is Evan, counting every spelling?
Evan is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #156 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #153 for Evan on its own. Together these spellings went to 2,488 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evan | 2,412 | #153 | 13,596 |
| Evaan | 47 | #2,726 | 191 |
| Evin | 29 | #3,783 | 127 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Evan?
2,412 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Evan (0.67 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Evan born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 3 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Evan.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Evan?
About 273,800 people born in the US named Evan are alive today, with a median age of 22; half are between 15 and 32. That makes Evan mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Evan by state
How common Evan was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Connecticut (1.8×), New Hampshire (1.6×), California (1.6×), Massachusetts (1.6×), Alaska (1.6×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in Mississippi, Wyoming, Alabama.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Evan: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Evan, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Evan · Sibling names for Evan
Questions about the name Evan
What does Evan mean?
Evan means “God is gracious (Welsh form of John)” (Welsh, Hebrew origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Evan?
Evan was the 153rd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 2,412 babies. Its best year was 2009, when it ranked 35th; the most babies were born in 2007 (10,295). Over the last ten years it has moved down 86 places. More babies were named Evan in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Is Evan a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Evan in the US.
Where is Evan most popular?
In 2021–2025, Evan was most common in Connecticut (2.79 per 1,000 boys), followed by New Hampshire and California.