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    The first name Nathaniel

    A boy’s name from Hebrew meaning “god has given”.

    Pronounced /nəˈθæn.jəl/ 3 syllables Male Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    Hebrew origin

    Nathaniel means “god has given” in Hebrew.

    Modification, under influence of Daniel, of Nathanael, from Ancient Greek Ναθαναήλ (Nathanaḗl), from Biblical Hebrew נְתַנְאֵל (Netan'el, literally “God has given”).

    More names that mean gift.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 361 boys were named Nathaniel, making it the 149th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2012, with 536 births (#118).

    0300600 1996200020052010201520202025
    12,512
    babies named Nathaniel, 1996–2025
    #149
    rank in 2025
    2012
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Nathaniel with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Nathaniel at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 2,565 boys born in the United States were named Nathaniel, the 140th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2002, when 6,813 were.

    03,5007,000 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    288,265
    babies named Nathaniel since 1880
    #140
    rank in 2025
    2002
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Nathaniel in other languages

    Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary

    納撒尼爾 /纳撒尼尔
    Nàsǎní'ěr
    Chinese
    Nataniele
    Italian

    Spelled Nathaniel in French too.

    Nicknames and spellings

    Nicknames for Nathaniel

    Famous people named Nathaniel

    91 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Nathaniel Hawthorne
      American writer (1804–1864)
    • Nathaniel Clyne
      English association football player (born 1991)
    • Nathaniel Chalobah
      English footballer (born 1994)
    • Nathaniel Brown
      German association football player, born 2003
    • Nathaniel Lord Britton
      American botanist and geologist (1859-1934)
    • Nathaniel Palmer
      American explorer (1799–1877)
    • Nathaniel Parker
      English actor (born 1962)
    • Nathaniel Bliss
      English astronomer (1700-1764)
    • Nathaniel Buzolic
      Australian actor, born 1983
    • Nathaniel P. Banks
      American politician of Massachusetts and general of the Union Army (1816-1894)
    • Nathaniel Lyon
      First Union general to be killed in the American Civil War, 1818–1861
    • Nathaniel Cartmell
      American athlete (1883-1967)

    More Hebrew boys’ names

    All 346 names of Hebrew origin

    Questions

    What does the name Nathaniel mean?
    Nathaniel means “god has given” in Hebrew.
    What is the origin of the name Nathaniel?
    Modification, under influence of Daniel, of Nathanael, from Ancient Greek Ναθαναήλ (Nathanaḗl), from Biblical Hebrew נְתַנְאֵל (Netan'el, literally “God has given”).
    How popular is the name Nathaniel?
    In 2025, 361 boys born in England and Wales were named Nathaniel, ranking 149th. Its peak was 2012, with 536 births.
    What are nicknames for Nathaniel?
    Common nicknames for Nathaniel include Nate, Nat, Nath, Nathe.
    Is Nathaniel a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 288,265 US babies named Nathaniel since 1880 were boys.
    When was Nathaniel most popular?
    2002 in the United States, when 6,813 babies were named Nathaniel, its highest rank at 62nd.
    How do you pronounce Nathaniel?
    Nathaniel is /nəˈθæn.jəl/, 3 syllables.
    Is Nathaniel also a surname?
    Yes. Nathaniel is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.