NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Nathen

A masculine name from the Hebrew 'Natan', meaning "gift of God".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Nathen is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Nathen popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1998, with 12 births.

This profile covers 141 England and Wales registrations across 21 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 25% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 150 living people in the UK are called Nathen. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Nathen ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1998, when 12 boys were registered as Nathen.
  • Nathen ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #490 in 2004.
  • About 150 living people in the UK are estimated to have Nathen as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5119

2024

Births in 2024

3

Latest year

Peak year

1998

12 births

Estimated living

150

2026

Meaning

What does Nathen mean?

The name Nathen has its origins in the Hebrew language and culture, dating back to ancient times. It is derived from the Hebrew word "natan," which means "he gave" or "gift from God." The name was popular among the Jewish community and was often given to male children as a symbol of gratitude and divine blessing.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Nathen can be found in the Bible, specifically in the Book of Samuel. In this text, Nathen was the name of a prophet who played a significant role in the life of King David. He is known for delivering God's message to David regarding the construction of the Temple in Jerusalem.

Throughout history, the name Nathen has been adopted and adapted by various cultures, leading to slight variations in spelling and pronunciation. For instance, in ancient Greece, the name was spelled as "Nathanael," while in Latin, it became "Nathaniel."

One of the earliest recorded individuals to bear the name Nathen was Nathen the Prophet, who lived in the 10th century BCE and was a prominent figure in the Bible. Another notable figure was Nathen of Gaza, a Greek grammarian and philosopher who lived in the 5th century CE and made significant contributions to the study of language and rhetoric.

During the Middle Ages, the name Nathen was popular among Christian communities, particularly in Europe. One notable bearer of this name was Nathen the Wise, a 12th-century Jewish philosopher and physician from Baghdad, who is best known for his work on ethics and metaphysics.

In the 16th century, Nathen Culverwell, an English theologian and author, gained recognition for his book "An Elegant and Learned Discourse on the Light of Nature." He was born in 1619 and made significant contributions to the field of natural theology.

In the 19th century, Nathen Rothschild, a member of the renowned Rothschild banking family, was born in 1840. He played a crucial role in the family's financial empire and was known for his philanthropic endeavors.

Another notable figure from the 19th century was Nathen Bedford Forrest, a Confederate Army general during the American Civil War. He was born in 1821 and gained notoriety for his military tactics and controversial actions during the war.

These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who bore the name Nathen, each leaving their mark in various fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of human civilization.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Nathen over time

The chart below shows babies named Nathen registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Nathen, the clearest high point is 1998. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 12 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Nathen
036912199620102024

Decades

Nathen by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Nathen was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #5119 3 1
2010s #3294 35 6
2000s #2427 63 10
1990s #1326 40 4

Geography

Where Nathen is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Nathen. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.

Nathen ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #490 in 2004.

Scotland
3

Across the UK

Nathen in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#490 in 2004

3 years of NRS records, 10 total registered

Related

Names similar to Nathen

FAQ

Nathen: questions and answers

How popular is the name Nathen in the UK right now?

In 2024, Nathen was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Nathen most popular?

The peak year on record was 1998, with 12 babies registered as Nathen in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Nathen?

A masculine name from the Hebrew 'Natan', meaning "gift of God".

How many people are called Nathen in the UK?

A total of 141 babies have been registered as Nathen across the 21 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 10 more in Scotland.

Where is Nathen most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Nathen ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #490 in 2004. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.