Elhanan is a Hebrew name that means "Mercy has favored." It is derived from the Hebrew words "El" meaning God, and "Hanani" meaning favored or gracious.
The name Elhanan appears in the Bible in two instances. The first is in 2 Chronicles 17:8, where it is mentioned as the name of a Levite who was one of King Hezekiah's chief assistants. The second instance is in 1 Chronicles 20:5-8, where Elhanan, son of Jair, is described as killing Goliath the Gittite. This story is significant because it provides an alternative version to the more well-known account of David slaying Goliath.
The name Elhanan has been used throughout history and continues to be popular among Jewish families today. It was also used by American poet Ezra Pound in his epic work "The Cantos," where he references Elhanan as a symbol of divine mercy.
Elhanan is a unique and uncommon name in the United States. Over the past five years, there have been only 17 babies named Elhanan, with the highest number of births occurring in 2018 with 7 newborns sharing this distinctive name. In recent years, the popularity of the name has remained consistent, with 5 births recorded both in 2021 and 2023. This demonstrates that while Elhanan may not be a common choice for parents, it continues to be chosen as a meaningful and special name for their children.