Given name & surname
Nate
“he has given”·“God has given”
Nate is a variant of Nathan. Nathan’s Hebrew meaning is “he has given,” traditionally understood as “God has given.” In English use, Nate is a diminutive of Natalie. One Latin interpretation is “born on Christmas Day; refers to Christ's birthday.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Nate is a variant of Nathan. Nathan’s Hebrew meaning is “he has given,” traditionally understood as “God has given.” In English use, Nate is a diminutive of Natalie. One Latin interpretation is “born on Christmas Day; refers to Christ's birthday.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Nate 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 English usage, Nate is a diminutive of Nathan. In English usage, Nate is a diminutive of Natalie. Nate 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.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Nate 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. In English use, Nate is a diminutive of Natalie. The history of Natalie gives this family its wider story. Natalie’s historical associations include the actress Natalie Wood.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Nate through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 4,791
- 4,490 boys · 301 girls
- Most popular year
- 2007
- 181 babies
- 2025
- 93
- #1,748 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +24%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 93 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 1,748 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 23.7% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 181 in 2007. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (13). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 21,610 as a first name in 2020; 541 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.
Nate’s family of names
In English usage, Nate is a diminutive of Nathan. In English usage, Nate has a related form in NEAT. Nate has a related form in Nathan.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 6
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Nate
- Nate DoggAmerican singer and rapper (1969-2011)
- Nate RobinsonAmerican basketball player (born 1984)
- Nate DiazAmerican mixed martial artistborn 1985
- Nate ArchibaldAmerican basketball player (born 1948)
- Nate RuessAmerican singerborn 1982
- Nate ThurmondAmerican basketball player (1941–2016)
- Nate ParkerAmerican actor and filmmakerborn 1979
- Nate MendelAmerican bassistborn 1968
- Nate SilverAmerican statistician, journalist, and poker player (born 1978)
Characters named Nate: Near (Death Note), Nate Archibald (fictional character).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Nate, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Lathan
“a gift from God” · “he has given”
>99% boys
Nathe
“he has given” · “God has given”
>99% boys
Diego
“he who supplants”
>99% boys
Nattey
“he has given” · “God has given”
—
Nahman
“comforter” · “a compassionate man”
>99% boys
Nahom
“comforter” · “a compassionate man”
>99% boys
Zaryte
“princess”
—
Nayan
“having beautiful eyes”
>99% boys