name
Common
Nathan
NAY-thuhn
Nathan (name) means a male given name of Hebrew origin, meaning "he gave," also used as an Old Testament prophet's name. Example: “Nathan the prophet confronted King David over his wrongdoing.”
name
1
A male given name of Hebrew origin, meaning "he gave," also used as an Old Testament prophet's name.
"Nathan the prophet confronted King David over his wrongdoing."
"They named their son Nathan after his great-grandfather."
"He was so proud he'd had a son. He talked me into naming him Nathan saying he had always loved that name. I was surprised to see when I looked it up in a name book it meant gift from God. And yes that was a very appropriate name."
— Rose Lamatt, Lifeline Online (2007)
"Near the end of Sasquatch Sunset, the gloriously weird feature from David and Nathan Zellner, Riley Keough wordlessly conveys a slowly creeping moment of profound existential despair that crushes your heart with its bleakness."
— Wendy Ide, Sasquatch Sunset review – brilliant bigfoot oddity is unexpectedly moving (2024)
How to use Nathan
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA common male first name meaning "gave" in Hebrew.
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Word forms
- Plural
- Nathans
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_____ the prophet confronted King David over his wrongdoing.
Etymology
From Hebrew "natan," meaning "gave," and closely related to the longer name Jonathan.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for Nathan
See all rhymes for Nathan →Frequently asked questions
What does “Nathan” mean?
The word “Nathan” means a male given name of Hebrew origin, meaning "he gave," also used as an Old Testament prophet's name. In plain terms, a common male first name meaning "gave" in Hebrew.
How do you pronounce “Nathan”?
“Nathan” is pronounced NAY-thuhn (/ˈneɪθən/ in IPA).
How do you use “Nathan” in a sentence?
Here is “Nathan” used in a sentence: “Nathan the prophet confronted King David over his wrongdoing.”
What part of speech is “Nathan”?
“Nathan” is a name.
Where does the word “Nathan” come from?
The word “Nathan” comes from Hebrew. From Hebrew "natan," meaning "gave," and closely related to the longer name Jonathan.
Is “Nathan” a common word?
“Nathan” is a fairly common word in modern English.
Is "Nathan" a boy's or girl's name?
"Nathan" is traditionally a male given name of Hebrew origin. It is used almost exclusively for boys, and the short form "Nate" is a common nickname.
What is the difference between "Nathan" and "Nathaniel"?
"Nathan" and "Nathaniel" are related male names of Hebrew origin that are often confused but remain distinct. "Nathan" is a complete name meaning roughly "he gave," and it is not merely a shortened form of "Nathaniel."
Who was Nathan in the Old Testament?
In the Old Testament, Nathan is the name of a prophet. The given name has been used for boys long since and carries the Hebrew meaning "he gave."
What is a common nickname for "Nathan"?
A common short form of "Nathan" is "Nate." The name lends itself easily to shortening, and "Nate" is widely used as an informal or friendly version.
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