Given name
Dathan
“from the spring”
Dathan is used as a given name. One Hebrew interpretation is “from the spring.”
Original Hebrewדתן
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Hebrew interpretation is “from the spring.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Hebrew.
How it developed
From the Hebrew noun dat (דת).
From biblical name research
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1958. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
In the Bible
In the Bible, the name Dathan appears in Numbers 26:9, Deuteronomy 11:6, Psalm 106:17.
- Numbers 26:9
- Deuteronomy 11:6
- Psalm 106:17
From biblical name research
Dathan through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,571
- 1,571 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 2005
- 53 babies
- 2025
- 6
- #10,961 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −49%
- Cooling
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 6 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 10,961 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 48.7% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 53 in 2005. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,300 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Dathan’s family of names
Dathan has a related form in Dathen. Dathan has a related form in Dathin. Dathan has a related form in Dathon.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 5
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
See also 3
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
Similar names
If you love Dathan, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Mattan
“gift”
>99% boys
Johanan
“Yah is gracious”
>99% boys
Azzan
“strong one” · “their strength”
>99% boys
Tahan
“encampment”
>99% boys
Alian
“tall” · “going up”
>99% boys
Enan
“having eyes” · “having fountains”
>99% boys
Elnathan
“God has given”
>99% boys
Nahshon
“serpent” · “bronze”
>99% boys