Evan

Evan is a traditional and timeless gender-neutral Welsh name. Yes, you read that right—Evan is most often picked for boys, but it actually has rare feminine usage as well, which peaked in 1991. Evan is the English spelling of Iefan, the Welsh form of John, so it ultimately stems from the Hebrew Yoḥanan and means "God is gracious" or "graced by Yahweh." On trips to Wales, Ireland, England, and Scotland, you'll likely meet a few friendly Evans. Interestingly, Evan charts highly for baby boy names in France and Puerto Rico, showing a universal appeal across different cultures. The Bump user plunderb describes Evan as a "modern classic" thanks to its old school vibe that's making a comeback.

Fun Facts About the Name Evan

• Evan's youthful undertones: While Evan is most often considered a form of John, chances are its creation was influenced by the Welsh word ieuanc, meaning "young man."
• Evan Evans: Just like John is historically popular in England, so is Evan in Wales. In fact, when the introduction of patronymic last names happened in Wales, many people adopted the surname Evans in honor of their fathers of the same name. Today, Evans is one of the most popular surnames in Wales, and for a while, a lot of people were called Evan Evans.
• Evan's decades-long run: Evan first reached Top 100-status in the US in 1983 and peaked in 2009 as the 35th most popular name for boys. It left the Top 100 in 2020 but has been maintaining its spot in the Top 200 since.