Nathaniel
Nathaniel was the 140th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 2,565 babies. Its best year was 1998, when it ranked 60th; the most babies were born in 2002 (6,813). Over the last ten years it has moved down 43 places. More babies were named Nathaniel in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Meaning God has given · Hebrew
Say it nuh-THAN-yuhl /nəˈθænjəl/
- Rank in 2025
- #140 boys, down 15 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 2,565boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 20026,813 babies
- Total since 1880
- 288,265babies recorded
What does the name Nathaniel mean?
Nathaniel is an English form of Nathanael, the Greek spelling of Hebrew Netanel, 'God has given', from a verb 'to give' and El, 'God'; DMNES gives the same meaning. In the Gospel of John, Nathanael is a disciple whom Jesus calls a true Israelite. Wiktionary says the -iel spelling arose under the influence of Daniel. DMNES notes the name came into use among Protestants in the 16th century, and it was taken up by English Puritans.
נְתַנְאֵל (Biblical Hebrew, “Netanel, God has given”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Related names: Nathanael, Nathan, Nate, Netanel, 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', Durham University / The DMNES Editors
- New Testament, John 1:45 (Greek text and translations via Bible Gateway), Bible Gateway
- Wiktionary, entry 'Nathaniel', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
Nicknames for Nathaniel
The usual nicknames for Nathaniel are Nate, Nat and Nathan. Some parents skip the long form: for every 100 boys named Nathaniel in the last five years, 198 were named Nathan, against 205 twenty years earlier. Nate is also gaining on the full name.
| Nickname | Kind | Rank 2025 | Boys, 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nate · also for Neythan, Nathan, Nathanael | Traditional | #1,748 | 522 |
| Nat · also for Nathan, Natalie, Natalia | Traditional | — | 5 |
| Nathan | Traditional | #63 | 26,053 |
Nicknames reviewed by our editors; counts are boys given the nickname as their legal first name. Nobody records how many Nathaniels go by each one.
Nathaniel popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 1,162 since 1915.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #140 | 2,565 |
| 2020 | #125 | 2,930 |
| 2010 | #81 | 5,110 |
| 2000 | #61 | 6,797 |
| 1990 | #86 | 4,348 |
| 1980 | #86 | 3,492 |
| 1970 | #218 | 1,136 |
| 1960 | #239 | 1,146 |
| 1950 | #182 | 1,223 |
| 1940 | #176 | 833 |
| 1930 | #185 | 754 |
| 1920 | #166 | 837 |
| 1910 | #139 | 232 |
| 1900 | #179 | 118 |
| 1890 | #178 | 75 |
| 1880 | #205 | 60 |
How popular is Nathaniel, counting every spelling?
Nathaniel has no other common spelling that sounds the same. Counting every name's spellings together, it ranks #149 for boys in 2025, against #140 on the official list, because Elliot/Elliott/Eliot and Kayson/Kaison/Kaysen and Nico/Niko/Nikko move ahead once their spellings are combined.
How many kids will share the name Nathaniel?
2,565 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Nathaniel (0.71 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Nathaniel 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 3 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Nathaniel.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Nathaniel?
About 246,700 people born in the US named Nathaniel are alive today, with a median age of 27; half are between 17 and 40. That makes Nathaniel 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.
Nathaniel by state
How common Nathaniel was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in District of Columbia (2.4×), New Mexico (2.0×), Connecticut (1.8×), California (1.5×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in Utah, Nebraska, Wisconsin.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Nathaniel: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Nathaniel, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Nathaniel · Sibling names for Nathaniel
Questions about the name Nathaniel
What does Nathaniel mean?
Nathaniel means “God has given” (Hebrew origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Nathaniel?
Nathaniel was the 140th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 2,565 babies. Its best year was 1998, when it ranked 60th; the most babies were born in 2002 (6,813). Over the last ten years it has moved down 43 places. More babies were named Nathaniel in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Is Nathaniel a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Nathaniel in the US.
Where is Nathaniel most popular?
In 2021–2025, Nathaniel was most common in District of Columbia (3.66 per 1,000 boys), followed by New Mexico and Connecticut.