Evan is a name of Welsh origin and means ‘the Lord is gracious’. The name is derived from Iefan which is a welsh form of John, which in turn is derived from the Hebrew name Yochanan. Evan can also be translated from Hebrew and means ‘rock.’
The name Evan is also used as a shortened version of the Greek names Evangelos which means ‘good messenger’ and Evander which means ‘good man’.
It is a name that is typically given to male children although it has been used for females as well.
- Evan Name Origin: Welsh
- Pronunciation: ehv-an
- Gender: Most often used as a boy’s name but has been used for girls too.
How Popular is the Name Evan?
Evan has been a popular name in Wales since the middle ages and was even used over the border in the neighboring English counties.
Although Evan is a popular name it has not been overused and according to the Social Security Administration data remained in the top 100 names until 2020 when it fell to a ranking of 105.
Variations of the Name Evan
If you like Evan but are still not 100% sure it is the right choice for you then how about some of these variations from other languages?
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
| Ewan | Born of yew; God is gracious | Scottish |
| Ifan | God is gracious | Scottish |
| Ivano | God is gracious | Slavic |
| Iven | Yew | French |
| Javan | Ionian | Hebrew |
| John | God is gracious | Hebrew |
| Owen | Noble born | Welsh |
Other Amazing Welsh Boys Names
If you have your heart set on a welsh name for your little one then here are some fantastic options.
| Name | Meaning |
| Adain | Someone who has wings |
| Aeron | Berry |
| Bedwyr | Name from Arthurian legend |
| Cai | To rejoice |
| Dafydd | Beloved |
| Gethin | Strong Lord |
| Harri | Leader of the army |
Alternative Boy Names Starting with ‘E’
Maybe you are set on choosing a baby name that starts with the letter ‘E’, here are some great alternatives.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
| Eamon | Wealthy protector | Irish |
| Earl | Nobleman, warrior, prince | Anglo Saxon |
| Ebenezer | Stone of help | Hebrew |
| Eden | Paradise | Hebrew |
| Edgar | Wealthy spear | Old English |
| Edison | Son of Edward | English |
| Egan | Fire | Irish |
Famous People Named Evan
As a name that has been used in Wales for centuries there is no surprise that there have been a few famous people with the name Evan. Here is a list of some of those famous people bearing the name Evan.
- Evan Thomas Peters – American actor.
- Evan Handler – American Actor.
- Evan Sanders – Indonesian actor and singer.
- Evan Rachel Wood – American actress.
- Evan Dando – American musician and frontman of the Lemonheads.