Nathanael
Nathanael was the 632nd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 442 babies. Its best year was 1998, when it ranked 406th; the most babies were born in 2000 (609). Over the last ten years it has moved down 52 places. More babies were named Nathanael in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Meaning God has given (biblical) · Hebrew, Greek
Say it nuh-THAN-yul /nəˈθænjəl/
- Rank in 2025
- #632 boys, up 89 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 442boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2000609 babies
- Total since 1880
- 22,244babies recorded
What does the name Nathanael mean?
Nathanael is the Greek and Latin spelling of Hebrew Netan'el, "God has given," as DMNES and Wiktionary agree. In the Gospel of John, Nathanael is a disciple whom Philip brings to meet Jesus (John 1:45); he is often identified with Bartholomew. The more common English spelling is Nathaniel. DMNES notes the name came into use among Protestants in the 16th century. Nathanael has been used in the US since 1915.
נְתַנְאֵל (Biblical Hebrew, “God has given”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Related names: Nathaniel, Nathan, Nate, Natanael.
See also: Hebrew names, names that mean God, names that mean gift.
Sources for this meaning
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Nathaniel', DMNES (Durham University)
- John 1:45 (New Testament), King James Version, via Bible Gateway, Bible Gateway (KJV, public domain)
- Wiktionary, entry 'Nathanael' (English section), Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- US Social Security Administration, national baby-name data 1880-2025 (yob*.txt), team3 computation of first year recorded, US Social Security Administration (public domain)
Nicknames for Nathanael
The usual nicknames for Nathanael are Nate and Nat. Some parents skip the long form: for every 100 boys named Nathanael in the last five years, 28 were named Nate, against 18 twenty years earlier.
| Nickname | Kind | Rank 2025 | Boys, 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nate · also for Neythan, Nathan, Nathaniel | Traditional | #1,748 | 522 |
| Nat · also for Nathan, Natalie, Natalia | Traditional | — | 5 |
Nicknames reviewed by our editors; counts are boys given the nickname as their legal first name. Nobody records how many Nathanaels go by each one.
Nathanael popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 17 since 1981.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #632 | 442 |
| 2020 | #721 | 345 |
| 2010 | #538 | 475 |
| 2000 | #408 | 609 |
| 1990 | #523 | 356 |
| 1980 | #447 | 348 |
| 1970 | #1,311 | 41 |
| 1960 | #2,808 | 10 |
| 1950 | #2,398 | 11 |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | #2,938 | 9 |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Nathanael, counting every spelling?
Nathanael has no other common spelling that sounds the same. Counting every name's spellings together, it ranks #623 for boys in 2025, against #632 on the official list.
How many kids will share the name Nathanael?
442 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Nathanael (0.12 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Nathanael born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 19 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Nathanael.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Nathanael?
About 21,400 people born in the US named Nathanael are alive today, with a median age of 24; half are between 14 and 35. That makes Nathanael mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Nathanael by state
How common Nathanael was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Massachusetts (1.6×), Florida (1.6×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in Louisiana, Kentucky, Arkansas.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Nathanael: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Nathanael, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Nathanael · Sibling names for Nathanael
Questions about the name Nathanael
What does Nathanael mean?
Nathanael means “God has given (biblical)” (Hebrew, Greek origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Nathanael?
Nathanael was the 632nd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 442 babies. Its best year was 1998, when it ranked 406th; the most babies were born in 2000 (609). Over the last ten years it has moved down 52 places. More babies were named Nathanael in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Is Nathanael a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Nathanael in the US.
Where is Nathanael most popular?
In 2021–2025, Nathanael was most common in Massachusetts (0.36 per 1,000 boys), followed by Florida and Delaware.