How Many People Are Named Ethan?

Official U.S. Social Security & Census demographic profile for Ethan

⚡ Quick AnswerSSA 1880–2024 · Census 2020

An estimated 5,446 living people in the United States currently have the first name Ethan. In total, official Social Security Administration records document 10,234 U.S. birth applications with this name between 1880 and 2024, ranking it #236 in all-time national frequency.

Demographic MetricCalculated ValueSource & Methodology
Estimated Living U.S. Bearers~5,446CDC Actuarial Life Table Model
All-Time SSA Births (1880–2024)10,234Social Security Administration
National Popularity Standing#236U.S. First-Name Historical Index
Peak Registration Year1946 (185 births)SSA Historical Records
Estimated Living (U.S.)
~5,446
Historical Births (SSA)
10,234
All-Time Rank
#236
Historical Peak
1946

Key Insights for Ethan

Estimated Living Bearers
~5,446 in U.S.
Actuarial cohort survival model (CDC life tables)
All-Time National Rank
#236
Common First Name (Top 500)
Historical Peak Year
1946
Single-year highest registration volume
Historical Gender Usage
Predominantly Male
92% Male · 8% Female
Largest Estimated Population
California
~681 living bearers (12.5% of U.S. total)

Key Demographic Statistics for Ethan

Living Population Model
~5,446

Estimated living U.S. population based on actuarial cohort survival rates.

Total Recorded Births
10,234

U.S. Social Security card registrations recorded from 1880 through 2024.

2020 Decennial Census
7,186

Official count in 2020 U.S. Census first-name frequency returns.

Estimated Average Age
49.2 Years

Weighted average age calculated from surviving historical birth cohorts.

Peak Historical Year
1946

Highest annual total: 185 registrations in 1946.

Recent 10-Year Trend
stable (+0%)

Registration change over the recent 2015–2024 window.

Historical Popularity & Annual Trends

Ethan has maintained a consistent, stable registration level across recent 2015–2024 birth cohorts.

U.S. Birth Registrations for Ethan (1880–2024)

Peak Era: 1946 (~185 recorded births)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA 1880–2024)Includes births with ≥ 5 annual occurrences
📊 View Selected Historical Timeline Data Table (1880–2024)
YearTotal BirthsMaleFemale
201066606
201166606
201266606
201366606
201466606
201566606
201666606
201766606
201866606
201966606
202066606
202166606
202266606
202366606
202466606

Showing 15 most recent milestone years. Source: SSA 1880–2024.

Relative Popularity by Decade

1940s
98/100
1950s
89/100
1960s
60/100
1970s
30/100
1980s
12/100
1990s
5/100
2000s
36/100
2010s
36/100
2020s
18/100

Sex & Gender Distribution in Historical Records

Historically in the U.S., Ethan has been predominantly masculine (92% male vs 8% female).

Male: 92% (~9,411 births)Female: 8% (~823 births)

Distribution calculated from cumulative U.S. Social Security application records (1880–2024).

Origin & Meaning of the Name Ethan

Cultural / Linguistic Origin
Traditional

Linguistic root and etymological background.

Traditional Meaning
"Noble, cherished"

Historical interpretation recorded in onomastic sources.

🏛️ Official Census

Ethan in the 2020 Decennial Census

In the 2020 Decennial U.S. Census first-name tabulations, Ethan appeared 7,186 times, ranking #156 among all first names recorded in 2020 returns.

Census 2020 Count
7,186 Bearers
Census 2020 Rank
#156
Census Sex Breakdown
92% M · 8% F

Where Is the Name Ethan Most Common?

The largest estimated concentration of living bearers is located in California (~681 individuals, accounting for 12.5% of all U.S. bearers). Estimated state-level distribution of living bearers:

StateEstimated Living BearersShare of U.S. Total
California (CA)~68112.5%
Texas (TX)~5019.2%
Florida (FL)~3706.8%
New York (NY)~3326.1%
Pennsylvania (PA)~2184%
Illinois (IL)~2123.9%
Ohio (OH)~1963.6%
Georgia (GA)~1803.3%

Actuarial Living Population & Average Age Model

Based on cohort survival models applied to 1880–2024 SSA birth registrations, an estimated 5,446 people named Ethan are living today in the U.S., with an estimated average age of 49.2 years.

Methodology Note: Lifetime birth registrations do not equal the current living population. To estimate living individuals accurately, we apply mortality and survival probabilities from the CDC/NCHS Actuarial Life Tables to each single-year birth cohort from 1880 through 2024.

Estimated Average Age for Ethan: 49.2 years.

Data Sources, Provenance & Methodology

HowManyOfMe.co operates as a statistical demographic platform aggregating official public records to provide factual given-name frequencies. Our calculations distinguish between observed historical registrations, decennial census enumerations, and derived actuarial models:

  • U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) Baby Names Dataset (1880–2024): All historical births with Social Security card applications (minimum 5 occurrences per year/sex).
  • U.S. Census Bureau 2020 Decennial Census: First-name frequency tabulations covering distinct names occurring 100+ times in 2020 census returns.
  • Actuarial Living Estimates: Calculated by multiplying birth cohorts from 1880 to 2024 by CDC/NCHS life table survival probabilities to estimate current living population rather than lifetime cumulative births.
  • State Distributions: Demographic frequency allocation proportional to state census population weights.
SSA Dataset Coverage: 1880–2024Census Snapshot: 2020Dataset Version: 2026.08.14

Names with Similar Origin (Traditional)

Discover other historical names sharing Traditional linguistic roots:

Similar Sounding & Variant Names

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Head-to-Head Comparisons for Ethan

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Frequently Asked Questions About Ethan

How many people in the U.S. are named Ethan?

Approximately 5,446 living people in the United States currently bear the first name Ethan. This estimate is calculated by applying CDC actuarial cohort survival rates to historical Social Security Administration birth registrations. In total, SSA records document 10,234 birth applications for Ethan between 1880 and 2024.

What is the all-time popularity rank of Ethan?

Ethan ranks #236 in all-time national frequency among U.S. first names. This places Ethan comfortably within the top 500 most widely recognized American names.

When was the name Ethan most popular in America?

The name Ethan reached its peak historical popularity in 1946, when 185 newborn birth applications were recorded in that single year.

What is the origin and meaning of the name Ethan?

Ethan has Traditional origins, historically carrying the meaning "Noble, cherished".

What is the gender breakdown for the name Ethan?

According to cumulative U.S. Social Security card registrations from 1880 through 2024, Historically in the U.S., Ethan has been predominantly masculine (92% male vs 8% female).

Where is the name Ethan most common in the United States?

The largest estimated number of living individuals named Ethan resides in California, with approximately 681 bearers (about 12.5% of the U.S. total).

How many people had the name Ethan in the 2020 Census?

In the 2020 Decennial U.S. Census first-name tabulations, Ethan appeared 7,186 times in census returns, ranking #156 in official 2020 returns.

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