Nathaniel Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Nathaniel is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Nathaniel?
Nathaniel is spelled N-A-T-H-A-N-I-E-L. The name has 9 letters.
Nathaniel at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Nathaniel comes from the Hebrew name נְתַנְאֵל (Netan“el), meaning ”God has given' or “gift of God.”
- Origin
- Nathaniel is commonly associated with Hebrew origins and is known from biblical texts as a compound name meaning “gift of God.”
- Pronunciation
- nuh-THAN-yuhl · 3 syllables
Nathaniel Popularity in 2025
Rank#140
Recorded Births2,565
- Boys usage rose 4 places to #140 and recorded 45 more births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Nathaniel Mean?
Nathaniel comes from the Hebrew name נְתַנְאֵל (Netan“el), meaning ”God has given' or “gift of God.”
Origin: Nathaniel is commonly associated with Hebrew origins and is known from biblical texts as a compound name meaning “gift of God.”
How Do You Pronounce Nathaniel?
Pronunciationnuh-THAN-yuhl
Syllables3
What Is the History of the Name Nathaniel?
- History
- The name Nathaniel appears in Christian texts as the name of one of the apostles.
Nathaniel Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2009 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Boys | 2,565 | #140 |
| 2024 | Boys | 2,520 | #144 |
| 2023 | Boys | 2,533 | #143 |
| 2022 | Girls | 6 | #13,592 |
| 2022 | Boys | 2,706 | #138 |
| 2021 | Boys | 2,834 | #133 |
| 2020 | Girls | 6 | #13,453 |
| 2020 | Boys | 2,930 | #125 |
| 2019 | Boys | 3,097 | #122 |
| 2018 | Boys | 3,391 | #116 |
| 2017 | Boys | 3,541 | #112 |
| 2016 | Girls | 6 | #14,331 |
| 2016 | Boys | 3,887 | #103 |
| 2015 | Boys | 4,234 | #96 |
| 2014 | Boys | 4,317 | #94 |
| 2013 | Girls | 6 | #14,582 |
| 2013 | Boys | 4,538 | #91 |
| 2012 | Boys | 4,795 | #84 |
| 2011 | Girls | 13 | #8,614 |
| 2011 | Boys | 4,980 | #84 |
| 2010 | Girls | 6 | #14,959 |
| 2010 | Boys | 5,110 | #81 |
| 2009 | Girls | 9 | #11,459 |
| 2009 | Boys | 5,426 | #75 |
When Was Nathaniel Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2002 · Boys
6,813 recorded births
National rank #62
2000 · Boys
6,797 recorded births
National rank #61
2005 · Boys
6,689 recorded births
National rank #67
2004 · Boys
6,675 recorded births
National rank #68
Where Nathaniel Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| DC | #66 | 12 |
| CA | #81 | 453 |
| MD | #93 | 60 |
| NJ | #113 | 85 |
| SC | #114 | 46 |
| TX | #118 | 335 |
| NC | #118 | 101 |
| ND | #120 | 10 |