Evan is a popular Welsh name meaning “the Lord is gracious.” A version of the English name John, and the Spanish name Juan, Evan has Hebrew origins. The word evan, itself, means “rock” in Hebrew. Evan is also the shortened version of the Greek names Evangelos, meaning “good messenger” and Evander, meaning “good man.”

When you imagine an Evan he (or she) might be sporty, creative, clever, funny, a friend to many. Perhaps you imagine someone ‘Godly,’ like Evan Almighty. The name Evan is not only classic but it’s quite versatile.

The name Evan has been widely used in Wales since the 19th century. As a boy’s name, Evan has been a consistent choice, growing in popularity over the years and placing in the top 100 in 1983 (when it sat at 93rd place). In 2009, Evan reached 35th on the charts, which was its peak position. As a girl’s name, Evan is not particularly popular. It has never been in the top 100 names for girls and is considered to be a rare choice.

  • Origin: Welsh/HebrewGender: Evan is most often given as a boy’s name.Pronunciation: EH - v uh n

Although many baby names are separated by gender, Verywell Family believes that sex does not need to play a role in your name selection process. It’s important to select a name that you feel suits your new baby the best.

Name Variations

There are quite a few variations of the name Evan in other languages and countries, including:

  • Hans (German)Ian (Scottish/Gaelic)Iain (Scottish/Gaelic)Ivan (Slavic)Evander (Greek)Evangelos (Greek)Giovanni (Italian)John (English)Juan (Spanish)

Similar Names

Here are some names that have a similar vibe to Evan:

  • AidenAndrewBraidenCalebColeEthanGabeGavinJadenLandonLiamNathanOwenZach

Here are some other Welsh baby names for boys (or girls):

  • AledCaiCainDafyddDarynDylanElisGarethMaddoxOwenReeceTomosTrentonTristan

Other boy names that start with ‘E’ include:

  • EarlEddieEdenEdwardEldonElijah    ElliotElroyElvinEmmittEmoryEnriqueEricEzra

Suggested Sibling Names

Potential sibling names for baby Evan could be:      

  • AudreyAvaBaxterCaliCharlieConnerCoraDaniel  EllaElizaEverleighHannahHenryJacobJaredNadiaMargo

Famous People Named Evan

  • Evan Alexander, American politicianEvan Bayh, American politicianEvan Baylis, American football playerEvan Berry, American football playerEvan Brown, American football playerEvan Dara, American novelistEvan Goldberg, Canadian screenwriter, film producer and directorEvan Meek, American baseball playerEvan Kauffmann, German-American ice hockey playerEvan Rachel Wood, American actress

Still searching for the perfect baby name? Check out these related baby name lists for even more options: 

  • Top 1,000 Baby Names for Boys
  • 50 Welsh Baby Names
  • 100 Celtic Baby Names