Boy · #7,534 in 2026

Ethane

Name: Popularity of the name Ethane in U.S. births, 1880–2026
Creator: U.S. Social Security Administration
License: https://www.ssa.gov/foia/
Keywords: Ethane, baby name, popularity, U.S., SSA, rankings

Ethane is a naturally occurring organic chemical compound with chemical formula C2H6. At standard temperature and pressure, ethane is a colorless, odorless gas. Like many hydrocarbons, ethane is isolated on an industrial scale from natural gas and as a petrochemical by-product of petroleum refining. Its chief use is as feedstock for ethylene production.

Current Rank

#7,534

Peak Rank

#7,534 (2004)

Total Babies

5-Yr Trend

Stable

2002

First Year

2004

Last Year

2004

Peak Year

#7534

Peak Rank

Total Count

Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Ethane

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Origin & history

Ethane was first synthesised in 1834 by Michael Faraday , applying electrolysis of a potassium acetate solution. He mistook the hydrocarbon product of this reaction for methane and did not investigate it further. The process is now called Kolbe electrolysis : CH 3 COO − → CH 3 • + CO 2 + e − CH 3 • + •CH 3 → C 2 H 6 During the period 1847–1849, in an effort to vindicate the radical theory of organic chemistry , Hermann Kolbe and Edward Frankland produced ethane by the reductions of propionitrile ( ethyl cyanide ) and ethyl iodide with potassium metal, and, as did Faraday, by the electrolysis o

The Story of Ethane

Ethane first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 2002, with 7 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2004, when 9 Ethanes were born — ranking #7,534 that year. As of 2026, Ethane ranks #7,534 for baby boys with 9 births, with steady use. In total, more than 23 Ethanes have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2000s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

Top 10

11-50

51-100

101-500

500+

No data

Names that sound like Ethane

Phonetically similar names — useful when Ethane is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Ethen
Ethene
Ethyne
Methane
Etham
Ethne
Ithunn
Ethan
Athen
Athene
Athan
Athon

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Ethane

What does the name Ethane mean?

How popular is Ethane in 2026?

In 2026, Ethane ranks #7,534 among boys' names in the U.S., with 9 babies given the name that year.

When was Ethane most popular?

Ethane reached its peak popularity in 2004, ranking #7,534 that year with 9 babies given the name.

Is Ethane a unisex name?

In U.S. Social Security records, Ethane is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.

What names go well with Ethane?

Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Ethane include Natalia, Karis, Gregoire. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Ethane

Ethane is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2002 and has accumulated 23 births in the dataset. Ethane's peak popularity came in 2004 when it ranked #7,534. Use the chart and map above to compare Ethane's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.