Ethan
Boy name · #24 in 2025 · Very well-known
In 2025, 7,852 baby boys were named Ethan, placing it at #24 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #6, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 229 boys born in 2025 was named Ethan.
Babies named Ethan per year. Source: SSA.
The 143-year story
Ethan first appears in the Social Security records in 1882, when 7 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2004, when 22,210 boys were named Ethan — good for #5 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 Ethan against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Ethan in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Ethan is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very 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 Ethan is most common
Geography matters for names, and Ethan is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Ethan is most common in RI (8.3 per 1,000), MD (8 per 1,000), CT (7.6 per 1,000), DC (7.5 per 1,000), NY (7.5 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 5.4 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Ethan is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Ethan
Statistically, parents drawn to Ethan tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Logan, Dylan, Nathan, Julian, and Mason.
LoganDylanNathanJulianMasonAdrianJacksonIsaac
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Ethan | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7,852 | #24 |
| 2024 | 8,201 | #19 |
| 2023 | 7,810 | #24 |
| 2022 | 8,312 | #21 |
| 2021 | 8,863 | #20 |
| 2020 | 9,556 | #13 |
| 2019 | 11,311 | #11 |
| 2018 | 11,931 | #12 |
| 2017 | 12,483 | #14 |
| 2016 | 13,855 | #10 |
| 2015 | 15,103 | #6 |
| 2014 | 15,749 | #6 |
| 2013 | 16,260 | #6 |
| 2012 | 17,697 | #3 |
| 2011 | 16,702 | #7 |
| 2010 | 18,020 | #2 |
| 2009 | 19,858 | #2 |
| 2008 | 20,223 | #3 |
| 2007 | 21,041 | #3 |
| 2006 | 20,522 | #4 |
| 2005 | 21,318 | #5 |
| 2004 | 22,210 | #5 |
| 2003 | 21,362 | #7 |
| 2002 | 22,113 | #5 |
| 2001 | 17,962 | #17 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Ethan a popular boy name?
Ethan ranked #24 among boys in 2025 with 7,852 babies given the name — firmly in the top 100, so yes, it’s a popular choice. Ten years earlier it ranked #6.
When was the name Ethan most popular?
Ethan peaked in 2004, when 22,210 American boys received the name (ranked #5 that year). Since 2004 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Ethan?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 229 newborn American boys was named Ethan. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very well-known".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.