English

Proper noun

Nathan

1. An Old Testament prophet.
   • 1611, Bible (KJV), Samuel-Chapter-12/#5-7 2 Samuel 12:5-7:

     And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man: and he said to Nathan: As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die: And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity. And Nathan said to David: Thou art the man.

2. A male given name of Biblical origin.
   • 1972 Nate Perlmutter, A Bias of Reflections: Confessions of an Incipient Old Jew, Arlington House, ISBN 0870001647, page 27:

     I used to envy my brother his name, and recall once accusing my mother of having favored him, else why did she name me Nathan and him Philip, tell me that, ma, tell me that. He had king Philip and if day-dreaming that association wasn't pleasure enough, there was the then movie star, Phillips Holmes. All I had was Nathan Hale. Admittedly, Nathan Hale would have been fine — except among our schoolyard ditties was the couplet: Nathan Hale, / Nathan Hale, / He **** in a pail, / **** in a pail. Being a Nathan was sometimes trying.

   • 2007 Rose Lamatt, Lifeline Online, ISBN 143270589X, page 128:

     He was so proud he'd had a son. He talked me into naming him Nathan saying he had always loved that name. I was surprised to see when I looked it up in a name book it meant gift from God. And yes that was a very appropriate name.

Usage notes

• Popular given name in all English-speaking countries around 2000.

Related terms

• Nate.

Translations

French

Proper noun

Nathan

1. Nathan (biblical prophet).
2. A male given name, currently popular.

German

Proper noun

Nathan m ‎(genitive Nathans)

1. Nathan (biblical prophet).
2. A male given name

Portuguese

Proper noun

Nathan m

1. A male given name, a spelling variant of Natã