Nathen
Nathen was the 4012th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 27 babies. Its best year was 2004, when it ranked 770th; the most babies were born in 2006 (255). Over the last ten years it has moved down 2,173 places. More babies were named Nathen in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Nathan) he (God) gave · Hebrew
- Rank in 2025
- #4,012 boys, down 307 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 27boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2006255 babies
- Total since 1880
- 6,146babies recorded
What does the name Nathen mean?
Nathen is a spelling of Nathan, pronounced the same way, so it shares Nathan's meaning and origin.
Nathan is a Hebrew name from a verb meaning 'to give', usually understood as '(God) has given'. In the Bible it belongs to the prophet who advises and rebukes King David, and to one of David's sons. Wiktionary also notes it is used as a short form of Jonathan and of Nathaniel, which share the same root. DMNES dates its use as a Christian first name to 16th-century Protestants and finds it in an English record of 1567.
נָתָן (Biblical Hebrew, “he gave”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Related names: Nate, Natan, Nathaniel, Jonathan.
See also: Hebrew names, names that mean God, names that mean gift.
Sources for this meaning
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Nathan', Durham University / The DMNES Editors
- Hebrew Bible, II Samuel 7:2, JPS translation with notes (via Sefaria), Sefaria; verse reference and facts only, not quoted
- Wiktionary, entry 'Nathan', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
Nathen popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #4,012 | 27 |
| 2020 | #3,705 | 29 |
| 2010 | #1,153 | 161 |
| 2000 | #871 | 182 |
| 1990 | #1,032 | 106 |
| 1980 | #1,001 | 82 |
| 1970 | #2,705 | 13 |
| 1960 | #2,809 | 10 |
| 1950 | #2,288 | 12 |
| 1940 | #3,046 | 7 |
| 1930 | #2,560 | 11 |
| 1920 | #3,715 | 7 |
| 1910 | #1,773 | 5 |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Nathen, counting every spelling?
Nathen is a spelling of Nathan, a name family that ranked #68 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #4,012 for Nathen on its own. Together these spellings went to 5,002 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nathan | 4,975 | #63 | 26,053 |
| Nathen | 27 | #4,012 | 121 |
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 Nathen?
27 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Nathen (0.01 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Nathen 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 310 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Nathen.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Nathen?
About 5,700 people born in the US named Nathen are alive today, with a median age of 24; half are between 18 and 35. That makes Nathen 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.
Nathen by state
How common Nathen was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. In 49 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Nathen: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Nathen, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Nathen
What does Nathen mean?
Nathen is a spelling of Nathan, which means “he (God) gave” (Hebrew origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Nathen?
Nathen was the 4012th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 27 babies. Its best year was 2004, when it ranked 770th; the most babies were born in 2006 (255). Over the last ten years it has moved down 2,173 places. More babies were named Nathen in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Is Nathen a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Nathen in the US.
Where is Nathen most popular?
In 2021–2025, Nathen was most common in Texas (0.01 per 1,000 boys), followed by California and California.