Egan is an Irish surname and given name of unknown origin, often considered to be derived from the Irish 'Ó hEadhna,' which means 'descendant of Eadha.' It is also sometimes linked to the Norse 'Ottar,' meaning 'riches.' The name first appeared in Ireland during the Middle Ages, where it was borne by several important figures in Irish history. Today, Egan remains a popular choice among parents, ranking among the top 1000 names for boys in several English-speaking countries.
The name Egan experienced fluctuations in popularity between 1984 and 1989, with a peak of nine births in 1985, and a noticeable gap from 1990 to 2002 before reappearing with five births that year. Overall, there were forty-nine babies named Egan during this period.