etan

Etan is a masculine given name of Hebrew origin. It is a variant transliteration of the name Eitan (אֵיתָן), commonly interpreted as meaning firm, enduring, or strong. In Hebrew the name is widely used; in English-speaking countries, Ethan is the more common spelling, while Etan preserves closer pronunciation to the original Hebrew. The name is used among Jewish communities and in Israel, and it also appears among diaspora populations worldwide.

Notable people named Etan include Etan Cohen (born 1974), an American screenwriter and filmmaker known for his collaborations on Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby and Madagascar; and Etan Patz (1972–1984), an American child whose disappearance in 1984 drew national attention and helped galvanize campaigns to protect missing children. The spelling Etan remains less common than Ethan in modern usage, but it is still used by individuals seeking a Hebrew-origin variant.