Nathan
Boy name · #63 in 2025 · Well-known
How old is the name Nathan? In official American birth records, Nathan has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 4,975 baby boys were named Nathan, placing it at #63 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #38, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 362 boys born in 2025 was named Nathan.
Babies named Nathan per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Nathan first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 114 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2004, when 14,634 boys were named Nathan — good for #20 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Nathan against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Nathan in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Nathan is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "well-known". A low score means broad familiarity: teachers will spell it right, and your child may share it with a classmate. For many families that's a feature, not a bug.
Where Nathan is most common
Geography matters for names, and Nathan is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Nathan is most common in DE (5.8 per 1,000), MD (5.2 per 1,000), CT (5.2 per 1,000), NJ (5 per 1,000), MA (4.6 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 3.4 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Nathan is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Nicknames & related forms of Nathan
Nathan carries a whole family of nicknames and spellings — names that will feel like the same name in a classroom.
Counted as one name, the Nathan family went to about 5,068 boys in 2025 — together they'd rank around #62, versus #63 for Nathan alone.
Names like Nathan
Statistically, parents drawn to Nathan tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Adrian, Jonathan, Ian, Ethan, and Juan.
AdrianJonathanIanEthanJuanLoganDylanCameron
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Nathan | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4,975 | #63 |
| 2024 | 5,029 | #62 |
| 2023 | 5,073 | #59 |
| 2022 | 5,544 | #57 |
| 2021 | 5,432 | #59 |
| 2020 | 5,702 | #55 |
| 2019 | 6,090 | #55 |
| 2018 | 6,850 | #48 |
| 2017 | 7,442 | #45 |
| 2016 | 8,000 | #43 |
| 2015 | 8,600 | #38 |
| 2014 | 8,997 | #38 |
| 2013 | 9,721 | #31 |
| 2012 | 10,431 | #29 |
| 2011 | 10,523 | #28 |
| 2010 | 11,380 | #27 |
| 2009 | 12,135 | #25 |
| 2008 | 13,262 | #21 |
| 2007 | 13,605 | #24 |
| 2006 | 14,278 | #23 |
| 2005 | 14,365 | #20 |
| 2004 | 14,634 | #20 |
| 2003 | 13,667 | #26 |
| 2002 | 13,224 | #28 |
| 2001 | 12,647 | #31 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Nathan?
In official American birth records, the name Nathan first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 114 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Nathan a popular boy name?
Nathan ranked #63 among boys in 2025 with 4,975 babies given the name — firmly in the top 100, so yes, it’s a popular choice. Ten years earlier it ranked #38.
When was the name Nathan most popular?
Nathan peaked in 2004, when 14,634 American boys received the name (ranked #20 that year). Since 2004 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Nathan?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 362 newborn American boys was named Nathan. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "well-known".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.