Home › Baby Names Directory › Evan

Evan

♀ Girl

Pronounced EHV-uhn /ˈɛv.ən/Medium

Meaning: Yahweh is graciousMedium

In 30 seconds: Evan is a Welsh name meaning 'Yahweh is gracious', here used for a girl.
💕 Browse more names
Origin MediumWelsh, English
MeaningYahweh is gracious
U.S. rank (2024)#2775 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births61 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1991
Total births (all-time)≈ 4,675

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 199119152024

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

History & Origin

Evan is the Welsh form of a name meaning 'Yahweh is gracious', long carried by men such as the actor Evan Handler before its lighter sound drew it toward use as a girl's name. Its deeper roots show in the older Welsh spellings that stand behind it. The name keeps a clean, two-syllable shape across both genders.

The variations reach back to the traditional Welsh forms Ieuan, Ifan, Ioan, Iefan and Iwan, where the same gracious meaning lives under very different spellings. Evan is the modern, anglicized face of that older family.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Evan is ' Yahweh is gracious', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Evan — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

IeuanIfanIoanIefanIwan

Nicknames

—

Famous Bearers

  • ★Evan Handler (1961–present)
    Male public figure listed on Behind the Name.
  • ★Evan Adams (1966–present)
    Male public figure listed on Behind the Name.

Frequently Asked

What does the name Evan mean?

Evan is usually explained as meaning ' Yahweh is gracious' and is most often linked with Welsh tradition.

How do you pronounce Evan?

It's commonly said EHV-uhn /ˈɛv.ən/.

Is Evan a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Evan is used as a girl name.

How popular is Evan?

In 2024, Evan ranked #2775 in the U.S. for girls, with 61 births recorded.