'Etan is the Biblical Hebrew form of Ethan, originating from the Hebrew name אֵיתָן (ʾEṯan), meaning "solid, enduring, firm". In the Old Testament, this name is borne by a few minor characters, including the wise man Ethan the Ezrahite, reputedly the author of Psalm 89.
Usage and Notable Bearers
The name appears in the Hebrew Bible but was not commonly used as a given name until after the Protestant Reformation. It became more familiar in English-speaking contexts due to the revolutionary hero Ethan Allen (1738–1789), a key figure in the early history of the United States. The name gained literary fame through Edith Wharton's novel Ethan Frome (1911).
Forms and Variants
Cognates include Ethan (French), Aithan (Biblical Greek), and the modern Hebrew forms Eitan and Eytan. The Spanish variant Izan is also used.
- Meaning: "solid, enduring, firm"
- Origin: Biblical Hebrew
- Type: First name (masculine)
- Usage: Hebrew Bible