Given name & surname
Natan
“he has given”·“God has given”
In German use, Natan is a variant of Nathan. Nathan’s Hebrew meaning is “he has given,” traditionally understood as “God has given.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In German use, Natan is a variant of Nathan. Nathan’s Hebrew meaning is “he has given,” traditionally understood as “God has given.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In German use, Natan is a variant of Nathan. Nathan has Hebrew biblical roots and an independent history before its use as a modern short form.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In German use, Natan is a variant of Nathan. The shared background comes through Nathan: Nathan can stand as its own biblical name. Nathan has also been used as a short form of Nathaniel or Jonathan, but those later naming practices do not fully explain its origin.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1968. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In German use, Natan is a variant of Nathan. The history of Nathan gives this family its wider story. In the biblical account, Nathan is the prophet who confronts King David over the death of Uriah and David’s relationship with Bathsheba. Another Nathan is one of David’s sons.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Natan through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,623
- 1,623 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 2017
- 65 babies
- 2025
- 61
- #2,298 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −2%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 61 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 2,298 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 2.0% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, New York had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (10). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,975 as a first name in 2020; 241 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Natan’s family of names
In German usage, Natan has a related form in Nathan. In Portuguese usage, Natan has a conventional equivalent in the English form Nathan. In German usage, Natan has a related form in Nathan.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Natan has relatives in 7 languages.
6 related names in 7 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 5
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 3
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Natan
- Natan SharanskyIsraeli politician (born 1948)
- NatanBrazilian footballerborn 2001
- Nathan AltmanRussian artist of Jewish origin (1889–1970)1890–1970
- Natan RybakSoviet writer (1913-1978)
- Natan RakhlinUkrainian conductor (1906-1979)
- Natan PeledIsraeli diplomat (1913-1992)
- Natan Węgrzycki-SzymczykPolish rowerborn 1995
- Natan SlifkinBritish rabbiborn 1975
- Natan YonatanIsraeli poet (1923–2004)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Natan, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Tahan
“encampment”
>99% boys
Davyen
“the beloved one”
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Eithan
“firmness” · “long-lived”
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Kenrich
“a royal ruler” · “the champion”
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Nethaniah
“Yah has given”
>99% boys
Josiah
“God heals” · “God will help”
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Kaleb
“resembling an aggressive dog”
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Neithan
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