Nathan
Boy name · #63 in 2025 · Uniqueness 43/100
In 2025, 4,975 baby boys were named Nathan, placing it at #63 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #38, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 362 boys born in 2025 was named Nathan.
Babies named Nathan per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Nathan first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 114 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2004, when 14,634 boys were named Nathan — good for #20 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 Nathan against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Nathan in class?
Nathan scores 43 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Nathan is most common
Geography matters for names, and Nathan is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Nathans were CA (762), TX (683), FL (394), NY (329), NJ (199). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Nathan
Statistically, parents drawn to Nathan tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Adrian, Jonathan, Ian, Ethan, and Juan.
AdrianJonathanIanEthanJuanLoganDylanCameron
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Nathan | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4,975 | #63 |
| 2024 | 5,029 | #62 |
| 2023 | 5,073 | #59 |
| 2022 | 5,544 | #57 |
| 2021 | 5,432 | #59 |
| 2020 | 5,702 | #55 |
| 2019 | 6,090 | #55 |
| 2018 | 6,850 | #48 |
| 2017 | 7,442 | #45 |
| 2016 | 8,000 | #43 |
| 2015 | 8,600 | #38 |
| 2014 | 8,997 | #38 |
| 2013 | 9,721 | #31 |
| 2012 | 10,431 | #29 |
| 2011 | 10,523 | #28 |
| 2010 | 11,380 | #27 |
| 2009 | 12,135 | #25 |
| 2008 | 13,262 | #21 |
| 2007 | 13,605 | #24 |
| 2006 | 14,278 | #23 |
| 2005 | 14,365 | #20 |
| 2004 | 14,634 | #20 |
| 2003 | 13,667 | #26 |
| 2002 | 13,224 | #28 |
| 2001 | 12,647 | #31 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Nathan a popular boy name?
Nathan ranked #63 among boys in 2025 with 4,975 babies given the name — firmly in the top 100, so yes, it’s a popular choice. Ten years earlier it ranked #38.
When was the name Nathan most popular?
Nathan peaked in 2004, when 14,634 American boys received the name (ranked #20 that year). Since 2004 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Nathan?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 362 newborn American boys was named Nathan. It scores 43/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
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.