Evan is a name of Welsh origin, meaning "the Lord is gracious." It is derived from the Welsh name Iefan, which is composed of the elements "Ie" meaning "the Lord," and "fan," meaning "gracious." The name Evan has been used in Wales for centuries and was popularized in English-speaking countries during the 19th century. Today, it continues to be a popular choice among parents seeking a name with a unique sound but classic feel.
The name Evan has seen significant fluctuations in popularity over the past century. In its early years, it was consistently below ten births per year, with notable spikes in 1954 (16 births) and 1981 (58 births). However, from around 1983 onwards, there was a steady increase in Evan's popularity, peaking at 141 births in 1991. This trend continued until the late 1990s, with over 100 Evan births recorded annually between 1996 and 2000. Despite some fluctuations since then, Evan has maintained consistent popularity, with over 70 births recorded each year from 2008 to 2023, except for a dip in 2014 (76 births) and 2022 (65 births). Overall, there have been a total of 4614 Evan births since 1915.