Evan first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Evan has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Evan

A Welsh masculine name meaning "young warrior" or "the Lord is gracious".

Popularity of Evan by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Evan is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 98% of people named Evan being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 2,581 male babies and 65 female babies born with the name Evan.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 65 baby girls were named Evan in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 2,581 65
2022 2,823 79
2021 3,201 91
2020 3,412 87
2019 3,959 74
2018 4,387 90
2017 4,724 87
2016 5,611 88
2015 5,914 98
2014 6,721 76
2013 7,119 103
2012 7,904 124
2011 8,658 100
2010 9,731 88
2009 10,279 106
2008 9,926 131
2007 10,293 115
2006 10,129 98
2005 10,109 109
2004 9,982 134
2003 9,444 90
2002 7,384 102
2001 7,259 86
2000 7,333 85
1999 6,850 77
1998 6,084 86
1997 6,002 83
1996 5,579 91
1995 6,089 89
1994 5,894 99
1993 6,089 103
1992 6,050 127
1991 5,451 141
1990 5,308 112
1989 4,925 114
1988 4,336 81
1987 3,867 83
1986 3,888 92
1985 3,218 103
1984 2,938 83
1983 3,045 76
1982 2,670 61
1981 1,972 58
1980 1,624 32
1979 1,403 27
1978 1,157 26
1977 1,006 24
1976 779 14
1975 623 13
1974 631 8

The history of the first name Evan

The name Evan is of Welsh origin, derived from the word "Iefan," which itself is a variation of the Hebrew name "John," meaning "God is gracious" or "Yahweh is merciful." It emerged as a distinct name during the Middle Ages in Wales.

Evan was initially used as a Welsh form of the name John, but over time it developed its own distinct identity. The earliest recorded use of the name Evan dates back to the 13th century in Welsh literature and historical records.

One of the earliest known figures with the name Evan was Evan Sais, a Welsh poet and clergyman who lived in the late 13th century. He is best known for his satirical poems and his involvement in theological disputes.

In the 15th century, Evan Vaughan was a prominent Welsh soldier and landowner who fought in the Wars of the Roses. He played a significant role in the Battle of Mortimer's Cross in 1461.

During the 16th century, Evan Gwyn, also known as Evan Gough, was a renowned Welsh musician and composer who is credited with writing some of the earliest known Welsh harp music.

In the 17th century, Evan Gwynne was a Welsh historian and antiquarian who wrote extensively about the history and culture of Wales. His works, such as "The History of the Gwydir Family," are considered important sources of information about Welsh genealogy and traditions.

Another notable figure with the name Evan was Evan Evans, a Welsh clergyman and scholar who lived in the 18th century. He was known for his translations of Welsh literary works into English and his efforts to promote Welsh culture and language.

These examples illustrate the long-standing association of the name Evan with Welsh culture and its rich literary and historical heritage. While the name has since gained popularity in other parts of the world, its origins can be traced back to the ancient Welsh language and the traditions of Wales.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Evan was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Evan, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Evan first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 31, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/evan-meaning-and-history/.

"Evan first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/evan-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 31 October, 2024

Evan first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/evan-meaning-and-history/.

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