The name Ethan is derived from the Hebrew name Etan, which means "firm", "enduring", or "strong". It is believed to have originated in ancient Israel, and the name can be traced back to biblical times.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ethan appears in the Bible, in the First Book of Kings. Ethan the Ezrahite is mentioned as being one of the wisest men of his time, along with Heman, Chalcol, and Darda.

In the Bible's Book of Chronicles, Ethan is also listed as a musician and singer who played the cymbal during the time of King David. This suggests that the name was in use as early as the 10th century BCE.

The name Ethan gained popularity among Jews and later spread to other cultures and languages. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name outside of the Hebrew Bible is Ethan Allen, an American Revolutionary War patriot and leader of the Green Mountain Boys. He was born in 1738 and played a crucial role in the capture of Fort Ticonderoga from the British in 1775.

Another notable figure named Ethan was Ethan A. Hitchcock, an American Army officer who served in the Mexican-American War and the American Civil War. He was born in 1798 and is remembered for his efforts in reforming the military's medical services.

In the literary world, Ethan Frome is the titular character of Edith Wharton's 1911 novel, which explores the themes of isolation, fatality, and the consequences of repressed desires. The novel's protagonist, Ethan Frome, is a farmer living in a fictional town in Massachusetts.

Ethan Allen, the American Revolutionary War patriot and leader, was born in 1737 and died in 1789. Ethan A. Hitchcock, the American Army officer, was born in 1798 and died in 1870. While Ethan Frome is a fictional character, the novel by Edith Wharton was published in 1911.