Evan: Name Meaning, Origin, & Popularity

Girl name origins & meanings

What does Evan mean and stand for as a girl's name?

Meaning:

Welsh: God is gracious
Celtic: Youthful warrior
Hebrew: Rock
Place name: From the town in France famous for Evian springwater

Gender: Female, unisex

Syllables: 2

Pronunciation: The name Evan is pronounced eh-vuhn

The name Evan has origins in multiple cultures, with significant meanings in Welsh, Celtic, and Hebrew traditions. In Welsh, the name signifies "God is gracious." The Celtic roots of the name point to the meaning "youthful warrior," while the Hebrew interpretation is "rock." This versatile and robust name has been cherished in various cultures for its profound and positive connotations.

Girl name variations

Boy name origins & meanings

What does Evan mean and stand for as a boy's name?

Meaning:

Welsh: God is gracious
Celtic: Youthful warrior
Hebrew: Rock
Place name: From the town in France famous for Evian springwater

Gender: Male, unisex

Syllables: 2

Pronunciation: The name Evan is pronounced eh-vuhn

The name Evan has Welsh origins and is derived from the name Iefan, a form of John, which means "God is gracious." It is also associated with the Hebrew word for "rock." Evan is a traditional name that has maintained its popularity over the years due to its simplicity and strong, yet gentle, connotations.

Boy name variations

Family name origins & meanings

Welsh: from the personal name Iefan, a Welsh form of John. (The modern form of the personal name is Ieuan.)

Scottish: variant of Ewan.

Famous people who gave their babies this name

Bruce Springsteen

Paul Stanley

Popularity of the Name Evan

According to Social Security Administration data, Evan has been consistently popular, remaining in the top 100 since 2000 and only recently falling out of the top 50 in 2014.

However, it is the 30th most popular name on FamilyEducation.com.

According to Google search data analysis, in the last five years Evan was at its peak popularity in January 2021.

Evan has been popular for quite a few years, with namesakes including Evan Edinger, Evan Handler, Evan Kim, and Evan Rachel Wood. Jenny McCarthy also chose Evan as a name for her son. It's been a popular choice for fictional characters, as well, appearing in Evan Almighty, Cheers, Greek, and Dear Evan Hansen.