evan

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Origin, Meaning, And History Of Evan

Evan is popular in several languages, more commonly in English, Malayalam, and Welsh. It is derived from ‘Irfan,’ a Welsh variant of the name John. It shares similarities with names like Ian, Ivan, and Juan in different languages. John, in turn, is a name of ancient Hebrew origins, coming from the word יְהֹוחָנָן‎ Yəhôḥānān, which translates to ‘Yahweh is gracious.’ With its Welsh roots, Evan is believed to be a gender-neutral name, such as with actress Evan Rachel Wood, which has led to its characterization as a unisex name. However, it is predominantly used as a masculine name. The name carries meanings such as ‘God is gracious,’ ‘born of yew,’ and ‘youth.’

In addition to its Welsh origins, Evan can also be a shortened form of Greek names such as Evangelos, meaning ‘good messenger,’ and Evander meaning ‘good man.’ Furthermore, Evan can also function as a surname, with Evans being the most prevalent variant.

Variations of Evan in Welsh include Ifan, Ieuan, Iefan, and Iwan. The name also exists in different spellings across languages and cultures. A few of them include Yahya, Yuhanna in Arabic; Jan, Johan, Hanne, Jo, Joop in Dutch; Jean, Yann, Yoan, Yvan, Jeannot, Yanick in French; and Keoni in Hawaiian. The Welsh name Ianto is commonly associated with Evan as a diminutive form.

Evan has made its mark in popular culture through various works. For instance, Evan Almighty is a 2007 film that serves as a standalone sequel to the 2003 film Bruce Almighty. Another notable mention is Dear Evan Hansen, an acclaimed Broadway musical from 2016 that was later adapted into a movie in 2021.

Evan

Meaning God is gracious; Youth

Gender Boy

Religion Christianity, Greek

Origin Celtic, Welsh

Lucky Number 6

Syllables Two

Length 1 word, 4 letters, 2 vowels, 2 consonants

Type Short and easy to pronounce

How To Pronounce Evan?

Evan On The Popularity Chart

Evan has steadily risen in popularity and rank over the last few years. Take a look at the Social Security Administration graphs below to see its movement over the years.

Popularity Over Time

Though the name was not popular in the 1980s, it gradually became commonly known as the years went by, finally peaking in 2007.

Rank Over Time

Evan’s ranking shows a similar trend to its popularity, with its highest ranking in 2007 standing at 20612th position. However, the number has been declining since then.

Names With Similar Sound As Evan

Evan is a stylish name with a posh sound. Here are some other options that are phonetically similar to this name.

Eivind Evanam Evander Evandro Evann Evans Even Evin Evinrude Eyvind

Popular Sibling Names For Evan

If you are looking for some matching sibling names that resonate with Evan, check our suggestions here.

Boy Sibling Names For Evan

Find matching brother names for Evan and create a wonderful team of siblings.

Eivind Evanam Evander Evandro Evann Evans Even Evenezer Evin Evinrude

Girl Sibling Names For Evan

Looking for some suitable sister names for Evan? Check out our collection of beautiful and unique names.

Eavan Eaven Eevonne Evandra Evanee Evanesca Evangalista Evangelia Evangelica Evangelina

Other Popular Names Beginning With E

Looking for more baby names starting with the letter E to resonate with your family’s naming tradition or to rhyme with the sibling names? Find a range of alternative names starting with this letter.

Ea Edern Ednowain Ednyfed Eilwyn Einion Elgan Eliot Eliseo Eljin

Names With Similar Meaning As Evan

Evan is rooted in belief and divinity. If you resonate with its meaning, this list of similar names may appeal to you.

Eban Eben Efemuaye Efim Epifanio Evanam Evann Even Evin

Infographic: Know The Name Evan‘s Personality As Per Numerology

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How To Communicate The Name Evan In Other Languages

In Nautical Flags

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In Sign Language

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In Braille Alphabet

evan

In Morse Code

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Name Numerology For Evan

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the meaning of the name Evan?

The name Evan means ‘God has been gracious.’

2. What is the origin of the name Evan?

Evan has a Welsh origin.

3. How to pronounce the name Evan?

Evan is pronounced as eh-van.

4. Is Evan a rare name?

According to the data provided by the SSA, the name Evan is not a rare name. In 2022, the name stood at rank 132, making it one of the top 200 names in the US. It also had 2,823 babies sharing the name in the same year (1).

5. Is Evan a biblical name?

Yes, Evan can be regarded as a Biblical name. Evan is the Welsh form of the Biblical name John, who was one of the most popular disciples of Jesus. In  Christian art, specifically in the Last Supper, John has often been depicted leaning on Christ (2).

6. What does Evan mean in Russian?

The name Evan carries the same meaning in Russian, however, it is spelled and pronounced differently. It can be spelled as Vanya, Ivan, and Ioann.

7. Is Evan a Mexican name?

Evan is not a Mexican name. It is the Welsh variant of the name John. However, the name is also found in Spanish-speaking countries like Mexico. It can be spelled as Iván, Ibán, Juan, Juancho, Juanito, Jhonny, and Jhon.

8. What are some middle names that go well with Evan?

Evan is the Welsh form of the Biblical name John. To honor the meaning of the name, these suggested names are also Biblical names. They are Aaron, Adonijah, David, and Elisha.

9. What are some nicknames for the name Evan?

Nicknames are usually given as a form of affection and can be created as per the likes of the parents. Some possible nicknames for Evan are Ev, E, Van, or Evy.

References:

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.

1. Popularity of the Name Evan.
   https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/
2. John, the Disciple Whom Jesus Loved.
   https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2019/01/john-the-disciple-whom-jesus-loved?lang=eng

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Shikha ThakurMBA

Shikha is a writer-turned-editor at MomJunction, with over seven years of experience in the field of content. Having done a certification in Relationship Coaching, her core interest lies in writing articles that guide couples through their courtship to marriage and parenthood. She also specializes in baby names. A postgraduate in Human Resources from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, she likes understanding...more