Nathen is a name of Hebrew origin, meaning "gift from God." It is derived from the Hebrew word "nathan," which means "to give" or "to grant." The name Nathen is associated with the biblical figure Nathan, who was a prophet in the court of King David and is known for his wisdom and courage.
The name Nathen has been used throughout history, but it became particularly popular during the Middle Ages. In medieval Europe, it was often given to boys born around Christmas time, as it was believed that Nathen had been one of the three wise men who visited baby Jesus.
In more recent times, Nathen has become a unisex name, and its popularity has grown in English-speaking countries such as the United States and Canada. Today, Nathen is often used as a short form of Nathaniel or Nathan, but it can also stand alone as a unique and meaningful name choice.
The name Nathen has seen a varied journey in popularity over the years in the United States, as reflected in these statistics from 1902 to 2023.
In the early 20th century, Nathen was quite uncommon. Between 1902 and 1925, there were fewer than 15 births per year with this name. However, starting from 1926, we see a slow but steady increase in popularity, with numbers ranging from 7 to 13 births annually until 1948.
The late 1940s and the 1950s marked a turning point for Nathen's popularity. There was a significant jump in births, reaching as high as 23 in 1972. This trend continued into the 1970s, with the number of annual births peaking at 82 in both 1980 and 1981.
The 1980s saw a period of stability for Nathen's popularity, with around 80 to 110 births per year. However, from 1994 onwards, we observe another surge in popularity. The number of annual births peaked at an impressive 253 in 2005.
After this peak, there was a gradual decline in Nathen's popularity. Between 2007 and 2016, the number of annual births fluctuated between 124 and 196. Since then, the popularity has continued to decrease, with only 20 births recorded in 2023.
In total, from 1902 to 2023, there have been 6096 babies named Nathen born in the United States. Despite fluctuations in popularity over time, Nathen remains a name that has left its mark on American naming history.