Athan

♂ Boy

Pronounced AY-thun /ˈeɪ.θən/High

Meaning: immortalMedium

In 30 seconds: Athan is a short form of Athanasios meaning immortal. A crisp two-syllable name with Greek Orthodox heritage and the profound meaning of eternal life.

💕 Browse more names

Origin HighGreek

Meaningimmortal

U.S. rank (2025)#2678 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births48 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2012

Total births (all-time)≈ 2,173

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Athan is a short form of Athanasios (Athanasius), from Greek athanatos meaning immortal.

Athan is used in Greek Orthodox communities and growing in broader use as a distinctive short form.

Did you know? Saint Athanasius of Alexandria (296–373) was the great defender of Christian orthodoxy against Arianism — described as Athanasius contra mundum (Athanasius against the world) for his lonely stand.

Overall data confidence 82%

Behind the Name: Athan — name etymology referenceUS Social Security Name Database — U.S. popularity data

Variations

AthanasiosAthanasius

Nicknames

Ath

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Athan…

Theo— similar short Greek divine name

Kyrie— similar liturgical Greek name

Damon— similar short Greek classical name

Stefan— echoes that soft -an sound

Bastian— another Greek name

Explore names like Athan

By themegreek short two-syllable orthodox immortal

By meaningEternal

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does Athan mean?

Athan means immortal.

How do you pronounce Athan?

Athan is pronounced AY-thun (/ˈeɪ.θən/), with 2 syllables.

Is Athan a boy's name?

Yes, Athan is used as a boy's name.

How popular is the name Athan?

Greek short form of Athanasios; immortal meaning via athanatos well established.