nathan
n. countablen. a person who is very boring or has no personality. You use this word to describe someone who follows the rules too much and is not fun to be around.
n. a person perceived as exceptionally dull, socially awkward, or lacking in individual character. Highly informal and derogatory; used as a pejorative to dismiss someone as uninteresting or conformist.
Don't be such a Nathan and come out with us tonight.
He is a total Nathan who spends his entire weekend organizing his spreadsheet collection instead of socializing.
The group's dynamic shifted uncomfortably when he invited his cousin, a notorious Nathan whose presence invariably dampened the festive atmosphere with pedantic corrections.
From Hebrew נָתָן (natán, “gave”). Also short for Jonathan.
From a 2014 meme which suggested that white people should replace the word nigga in rap songs with Nathan. The present meaning of the term dates from around 2017.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Used as a common noun rather than a proper name in this slang context; often preceded by 'a total' or 'such a'.
Last updated May 2, 2026