Elnathan is a unique and uncommon name of Hebrew origin. Its meaning is derived from two Hebrew words: "El", which means "God", and "Natan", which means "given". Therefore, Elnathan translates to "Given by God".
The name Elnathan first appears in the Bible, specifically in the Book of Chronicles. It is the name of a man who served as an officer in the army of King Hezekiah of Judah during the 8th century BC. However, it is not widely known or used today, making it a distinctive choice for parents looking for a uncommon and meaningful name.
In terms of its history, Elnathan has not been popular throughout the centuries. It was not included in the list of most popular names in any decade, which contributes to its rarity and uniqueness. Despite this, it is still a name with significant historical and religious ties, making it an attractive option for parents interested in Hebrew culture or biblical history.
Overall, Elnathan is an uncommon yet meaningful name with Hebrew origins. Its literal translation, "Given by God", lends itself to a powerful and spiritual connotation. While it may not be widely recognized today, its unique sound and profound meaning make it a distinctive choice for parents looking for a special name for their child.
The name Elnathan has seen a varied history of usage in the United States over the past century. In 1926, there were 5 babies named Elnathan, with another 5 being born with this unique name in 1973.
Interestingly, it was not until 4 decades later that we saw an increase in popularity for the name Elnathan, with 6 births recorded in 2006. This upward trend continued into the following years: 7 babies were named Elnathan in 2007, followed by 8 in 2008.
The year 2010 marked a significant turning point for this name's popularity, with a notable spike to 15 births. This was closely followed by an impressive increase to 24 births in 2011 and an even higher number of 31 in 2012.
This momentum continued into the following years, reaching its peak in 2013 with 40 babies named Elnathan. The next year saw a slight decrease to 38 births, followed by another drop to 23 in 2016. However, this downward trend was not sustained, and there were 32 births recorded in 2017.
The years between 2018 and 2023 have shown fluctuations in the popularity of the name Elnathan, with numbers ranging from a low of 10 births in both 2021 and 2022 to a recent high of 19 births in 2023.
In total, over the past century, there have been 371 babies named Elnathan born in the United States. This statistical journey demonstrates the shifting trends and popularity of this unique name throughout different eras.