Evans

♂ Boy

Pronounced EHV-uhnz /ˈɛv.ənz/Medium

Meaning: Yahweh is graciousMedium

In 30 seconds: Evans means 'Yahweh is gracious', the sense carried by the Welsh family name behind it. As a first name it brings that surname into given-name use.

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Origin MediumEnglish

MeaningYahweh is gracious

U.S. rank (2025)#2082 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births71 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2024

Total births (all-time)≈ 5,370

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

Evans began as a Welsh patronymic surname and carries the meaning 'Yahweh is gracious'. Using it as a first name follows the common path of moving a family name to the front. The result keeps a familiar, grounded sound while nodding to its devotional root.

It is borne by Evans Carlson (1896–1947), a U.S. Marine Corps brigadier general who led Carlson's Raiders in World War II. The crisp single-syllable-plus-s shape gives the name an understated, sturdy quality.

Did you know? Evans likely reached first-name use through a surname or place-name route, which gives it that modern borrowed-from-history feel.

Overall data confidence 78%

Behind the Name - Evans — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

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Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Evans Carlson (1896-1947)
United States Marine Corps brigadier general who led Carlson's Raiders during World War II and helped pioneer American special operations tactics.

If you like Evans…

Evan— The base name Evans is the patronymic of, sharing the 'Yahweh is gracious' meaning.

Ewan— A related form of the same name with the same root.

Owen— Another Welsh boy's name with a similar heritage and feel.

Ellis— Like Evans, a surname-style name with a soft, two-part sound.

Explore names like Evans

By themeenglish surname-style

By meaningGod / Divine Grace

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Evans mean?

Evans is usually explained as meaning ' Yahweh is gracious' and is most often linked with English tradition.

How do you pronounce Evans?

It's commonly said EHV-uhnz /ˈɛv.ənz/.

Is Evans a boy or girl name?

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

How popular is Evans?

In 2024, Evans ranked #1879 in the U.S. for boys, with 85 births recorded.