Revan

Gender: Mostly Boy

Meaning: God is gracious, young warrior

Origin: Welsh/Hebrew

Popularity: Ranked #1723 in 2025 with 95 babies born.

History: Revan emerges as a distinctly modern American name with roots in Old English and Irish tradition. The name likely derives from the Old English hræfn, meaning raven, or the Irish reamhan, suggesting a joyful or stout spirit. While raven imagery has long carried significance in Norse and Celtic mythology—symbolizing intelligence, mystery, and transformation—Revan remained virtually unknown in American baby-naming until the early 2000s. The name's rise coincides with the 2003 release of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, widely regarded as one of the greatest video games ever made. The game's protagonist, Darth Revan, became a cultural touchstone: a Jedi warrior who fell to the dark side, then achieved redemption through an extraordinary character arc. This narrative of moral complexity and spiritual rebirth resonated powerfully with American gamers and parents seeking meaningful names beyond the mainstream. First recorded in 2004, Revan entered steady growth through the 2010s. The name peaked in 2021 with 111 births, ranking at number 1574 nationally—a significant achievement for a name less than two decades old. As of 2025, Revan remains positioned at rank 1708 with 95 recorded births, reflecting a slight decline but sustained presence. Across its twenty-one-year history, approximately 1,138 American children have been named Revan, with boys comprising 92% of recipients. The name appeals to parents seeking something modern yet rooted, distinctive yet pronounceable, and carrying both literary mythology and contemporary pop-culture credibility.

Nicknames: Rev, Revi, Van, Reve, Evan

Personality vibes: bold, introspective, transformative, intelligent, independent

Sibling name pairings: Kael, Lysander, Ezra, Sienna, Aurora, Kai, Rory

Middle name ideas: Revan James, Revan Alexander, Revan Cole, Revan Gabriel, Revan Arthur, Revan Michael, Revan Xavier

Famous people named Revan:

• Darth Revan — Star Wars KOTOR protagonist; iconic redemption character in gaming.

Revan in America Today

Revan occupies a unique space in contemporary American naming culture: modern enough to feel fresh, yet grounded enough in mythology and literature to carry substance. The name resonates most strongly with millennial and Gen Z parents who grew up during gaming's cultural ascendancy and value names that reflect their own interests and values. Revan skews heavily masculine—94% of American bearers are boys—making it a solid choice for parents seeking alternatives to overused names like Ethan or Liam. The name's relative rarity (fewer than 100 births annually) means most American Revans are the only one in their school or workplace, lending a sense of individuality without being unpronounceable or difficult to spell. It appeals to families with Irish heritage, fantasy or gaming interests, or those seeking a name with both darkness and light embedded in its mythology. The name carries no strong regional clustering, appearing across urban and rural America, though adoption remains strongest among educated, culturally engaged demographics.

Naming Trends

Revan's trajectory reveals the profound influence of pop culture on American baby naming in the digital age. Virtually absent before 2004, the name emerged as a genuine trend within a generation, suggesting that Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic's cultural impact extended beyond gaming into family naming decisions. Growth was gradual but consistent through the 2010s, accelerating in the late 2010s and early 2020s as gaming culture achieved mainstream respectability. The peak in 2021 (111 births, rank 1574) marked Revan's zenith, coinciding with broader Gen Z influence on naming and renewed Star Wars cultural momentum. The slight decline through 2024-2025 (95 births, rank 1708) may reflect natural market saturation or shifting parental preferences toward other fantasy-influenced names. Compared to established names, Revan's total of 1,138 births over twenty-one years is modest, yet the concentration of growth in a thirteen-year window demonstrates how a single powerful fictional character can legitimize and accelerate a name's adoption across an entire nation.

Cultural Notes

Revan's presence in American culture is inseparable from its gaming origin, a fact that carries both strength and nuance. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic remains critically acclaimed and culturally respected, not dismissed as niche or trivial—this legitimacy matters for a name derived from it. Parents naming their child Revan are making a deliberate statement about their values: they appreciate complex moral narratives, they engage with interactive storytelling, and they're comfortable drawing inspiration from non-traditional sources. The name's literary ties to raven mythology add layers of cultural depth beyond gaming alone. However, American parents should recognize that most people unfamiliar with KOTOR will likely hear the name as an unusual variant of Raven or a reference to the Star Wars character. For many Revans born in the 2020s, their name will inevitably be associated with gaming culture and pop culture fandom—not negatively, but distinctly. This differs from traditionally rooted names like James or Margaret, which carry historical weight independent of popular media.

Similar names: revansh, reanna, reva, revna, raeann, raeanna, regan, rehaan

Name length: 5 letters

How common is Revan? About 1 in 31,700 babies born in 2025 were named Revan, or roughly 0.3 per day in the United States.

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