Ethan

Meaning of Ethan

Ethan, ultimately derived from the Hebrew אֵיתָן (Eitan) and conventionally glossed as “strong,” “firm,” or “enduring,” entered English usage through biblical translation, most notably in reference to Ethan the Ezrahite, whose wisdom is juxtaposed with that of King Solomon in 1 Kings 4:31; this scriptural provenance, coupled with the name’s concise, vocally open phonology (EE-thən), has endowed it with an aura of intellectual steadiness that has appealed to Anglo-American sensibilities for well over a century. Although census records indicate only sporadic adoption prior to the mid-twentieth century, Social Security data reveal an abrupt and sustained ascent beginning in the late 1980s, culminating in a peak position of second most-used boys’ name nationwide in 2009 and 2010, after which the frequency plateaued yet remained securely within the upper echelons of the popularity tables. Cultural reinforcement has been multifaceted: Ethan Allen, the Revolutionary-era militia leader, supplies an early American association with principled defiance; Ethan Frome, though fictional, embeds the name in the national literary canon; and contemporary figures such as actor-author Ethan Hawke or filmmaker Ethan Coen ensure its continual visibility across media. Thus, Ethan occupies a semantic and statistical intersection where historical gravitas, biblical heritage, and modern cultural currency converge, rendering the appellation a resilient choice for parents who value a blend of traditional depth and current relevance.

Pronunciation

American English

• Pronunced as EE-thun (/ˈiθən/)

• Nathan
• Evan