Ethan - modern or classic?

[Ipushedmygrannyaffabus]

DP is really keen on the name Ethan. I'm not convinced (but can't come up with any other options - seriously, I like nothing!) but do like the meaning of 'strength'. Does Ethan sound like a modern, could get dated, name or would you know it's biblical?

[ovosmexidos]

My nephew is called Ethan. I wouldn't say it's particularly modern, nor is it a "classic" especially. It's just a normal name to me.

[PitilessYank]

I love the name Ethan. I don't think it will sound dated in the future.

[MaryDoloresOHoolihan]

It's quite 'now', I think.

[SunglassesPink]

It feels modern to me.

[KoalaDownUnder]

Not classic.

Way overused (maybe only in Australia).

Reminds me of 'methane'.

[BikeRunSki]

I think it's pretty Classic in the US, but is having a huge wave of popularity here right now, has been for a few years, but is very "early 2000s".

Dh's cousin named her son Ethan 3 years ago. FiL was curious as to why they chosen "such as American name", and was surprised when I told him it was really popular here, and found it something like 14th on the baby name stats for the previous year.

DS is 7, there are Ethans in every group of boys he mixes with - his school class, swimming, beavers etc.

[AngharadTheSplendid]

Not classic. Very 'trendy' hence will date.

[Pipilangstrumpf]

Not at all classic. Very modern and American sounding. Will sound dated when it falls out of favour imo.

[kelper]

I'm not a massive fan of it but I've known Ethans at every stage of my life, I'm now nearly 40.

[Bekksy]

Although not a new name I would say it's modern a trend and there are so many around now. I wouldn't use it.

[SavoyCabbage]

There was an Ethan in my dd's class in Australia (like Koala says it is popular there) and his mother had told me in the past she had chosen it to stop the traditional Australian shortening of names Johhno, Davo, etc. BUT he ended up with the nickname of Ethos!

[ClockMakerSue]

I think it is a strong traditional name, probably because of it being biblical. It looks as though it is fairly popular on the charts but I've only ever known two who are both teenagers now.

[Elroya1]

I do believe Ethan is quite modern. Will always bring the picture of Tom Cruise from Mission Impossible in my mind :)

[BikeRunSki]

Not modern, it's an Old Testament name. Just fairly recently widely used in the uk. This is what "Behind the Name" has to say about Ethan:

Means "solid, enduring" in Hebrew. This is the name of a wise man in the Old Testament. After the Protestant Reformation it was occasionally used as a given name in the English-speaking world, and it became somewhat common in America due to the fame of the revolutionary Ethan Allen (1738-1789).

[marblestatue]

It's a classic biblical name IMO.

[fluttershyby]

I've got an Ethan who's 10, I didn't know any when he was born but seems to have gotten more popular in recent years.
I did call him after Ethan Hunt in Mission impossible, quite sad but ex and I couldn't agree on any names then we watched the film...

[Bluesand1]

Hebrew/Biblical name so an 'old name' that has gained popularity in recent times
Won't most names 'date' save for a few?
My son's name and only know of 2 others

[whatsagoodusername]

My 5yo is an Ethan - there's another in his year and apparently another a few years up. I've only met one other though and he's at least late 30s now.

Modern biblical maybe? It's certainly more popular now than it has been.

[CordeliaFrost]

I'd say it's modern traditional, in that it's modern in terms of popularity, but also traditional because it is an old name.

To be honest though, I prefer the original Hebrew form which is Eitan (pr. ay-tahn), the sound of Ethan doesn't appeal to me.

[DerelictMyBalls]

Take a look at this graph to see how it has spiked in popularity: names.darkgreener.com/#ethan .

Very popular names rarely date well. It's this decade's Darren/Wayne.

Yes, it's from the Bible, but I don't think that makes it timeless.

LOL @ 'Ethos'!

[BikeRunSki]

I wonder what caused that upward trend In 2008 ish.

[craftyoldhen]

I don't know any Ethans over the age of ten. I know several under 10. I would therefore say it's fashionable right now but will date. But if you like it, does it really matter?

Most names will date IMO. There are few truly timeless names.

You could call him something really unfashionable like Trevor or Malcolm- then there's a chance you'll be ahead of the curve and he'll hit adulthood just as his name comes back into fashion

[pieceofpurplesky]

Lots of Ethan's at high school age. There are 7 I can think of at my school (1000 pupils).

[pieceofpurplesky]

How about Evan?

[DerelictMyBalls]

Evan is a lovely name, much classier.