National Evan Day is celebrated on November 29 every year. The name Evan has both English and Welsh origins. Initially considered a male name, Evan is now believed to be gender-neutral, as it’s also given to women — though sparingly. The name — meaning ‘God is gracious,’ ‘youth,’ and ‘born of yew’ — originally stems from a Welsh version of the name ‘John.’ A popular name choice in the beautiful country of Wales and France, Evan also occurs in different versions across the world today as Hans (German), Ian (Scottish/Gaelic), Ivan (Slavic), Evander (Greek), Evangelos (Greek), Giovanni (Italian), John (English), and Juan (Spanish). The name is also commonly used as a surname, with Evans known as the most popular iteration.
History of National Evan Day
Originally traced to Welsh origins and initially accepted as a male name, Evan is derived from ‘Iefan,’ a Welsh form for the name John. Now, Evan is seen as a gender-neutral and unisex name meaning ‘God is gracious,’ ‘born of yew,’ and ‘youth.’ The name John stems from the ancient Hebrew name ‘Yehoḥanan,’ which means ‘Yahweh is gracious.’
Evan is also the shortened version of the Greek names ‘Evangelos’ (meaning ‘good messenger’) and ‘Evander’ (meaning ‘good man’). In other languages, Evan is quite similar to Ian, Ivan, and Juan. The name Evan for boys in the United States peaked in popularity as the 35th-ranked male name in 2009 — the highest-ever since its steady rise from the 440th-ranked male name in 1995. Evan is still very popular in Wales, where the name came from, and is primarily considered a traditional and timeless name. If you’re ever on a trip to Wales, chances are that you’ll randomly meet one or two Evans. Even in France, Evan still ranks high amongst favorite boy names.
Famous figures with Evan as their first name include American politicians Evan Shelby Alexander and Evan Bayh, American football players Evan Baylis, Evan Neal, Evan McPherson, and American professional baseball player Evan Longoria. Others include Canadian actor Evan Roderick, American actor Evan Peters, Welsh politician Evan Price, Welsh revivalist and minister Evan Roberts, American writer Evan Narcisse, and American musicians Evan Dando and Evan Chambers. This list also includes Evan Williams, American Internet entrepreneur and former C.E.O. of Twitter, and American actress Evan Rachel Wood. Evan is also a common choice as a fictional character, featured as Evan Barnett, a businessman in the film “Little Rascals,” Evan Baxter in the 2007 film “Evan Almighty,” and Evan Chambers in the 2007 T.V. series “Greek” and many more.
National Evan Day timeline
American actor Evan Handler is born on January 10.
Evan Rachel Wood makes her teenage debut as a leading film actress in “Little Secrets.”
Actor Steve Carell stars in the film “Evan Almighty” as Evan Baxter.
Evan peaks at the 35th-ranked male name in the U.S.
National Evan Day FAQs
What is the biblical meaning of the name Evan?
Evan is the Welsh form of John — the English form of the Hebrew name ‘Yohanan,’ which translates to ‘Jehovah (Yahweh, God) is gracious (good).’
Is Evan a good name?
Evan is a cool and timeless name. It also has a nuanced meaning, which makes it a handsome choice name for your little boy — or girl, if you will.
Does Evan mean ‘warrior?’
According to its etymology, Evan is also related to the Gaelic word ‘Eoghan,’ which means ‘youth’ or ‘young warrior.’
National Evan Day Activities
Hug them
You may not have so much to spend and send to your best buddy Evan today. But if they’re close enough, this is a day to hug them tight and whisper some kind words into their ears!
Call them up
If your favorite Uncle Evan lives far away, we’re sure they’ll love a phone call or a simple text message today. You don’t have to be very eloquent to say the most profound words. Just speak from the heart.
Send thoughtful gifts
Does your own Evan come with a sweet tooth? Maybe they’ll love some chocolate or ice cream! You don’t have to break the bank. It’s the thought that counts!
5 Interesting Facts About Evan Rachel Wood
She doesn’t like her middle name
She only used her middle name so that casting directors wouldn’t confuse her gender.
She’s into martial arts
She won a black belt in taekwondo at the age of 12.
David Bowie is her biggest inspiration
Rock star David Bowie inspired her to act and sing, and she got a lightning bolt tattoo in his honor.
There’s a song about her
She was the inspiration for former boyfriend Marilyn Manson’s song ‘Heart-Shaped Glasses,’ and she starred in the video.
She comes from a family of actors
Her father was the local director of Theatre in the Park, her mother was an actress and acting coach, and one of her brothers was an actor.
Why We Love National Evan Day
It’s all about love
This is an Evan appreciation day. It’s a sterling opportunity to send some good wishes and warm hugs to the cool Evans in your life!
Good vibes and happy times
Appreciation days like this offer an excellent chance to share happy moments, dinner, and some fun nights out with the people that matter. We all need it!
Fun, fun, and more fun
This is a day to cherish and appreciate others for being who they are. Sure, Evans are great guys and girls, and this is one day to tell them they’re a whole bunch of special!
National Evan Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | November 29 | Friday |
| 2025 | November 29 | Saturday |
| 2026 | November 29 | Sunday |
| 2027 | November 29 | Monday |
| 2028 | November 29 | Wednesday |
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