William Boy
WIHL-yuhm
“resolute protector” · Germanic
#9
Nathaniel
BoyHebrew· “God has given”
- Meaning
- God has given
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- nuh-THAN-yuhl
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #140
- US babies 2025
- 2,565
- Best rank
- #60 (1998)
- Peak year
- 2002
Meaning and origin of Nathaniel
Nathaniel is a Hebrew name that means “God has given”.
Nathaniel comes from the Hebrew Netanel, meaning God has given. In the Gospel of John, Nathanael is a disciple whom Jesus describes as a man without deceit, and he is often identified with the apostle Bartholomew. The name was taken up by Puritans and carried to New England, where the novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne was born. It has stayed in steady use ever since, with a gentle, scholarly feel. Nate and Nat are the usual nicknames, and Nathanael is an alternative spelling closer to the Greek text.
Popularity over time
Nathaniel has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 146 different years. Its best national rank was #60 in 1998, and the most babies received it in 2002, when 6,813 were named Nathaniel. In 2025, 2,565 babies were named Nathaniel, and it ranked #140 nationally. That is 39% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #166 in 1920, #182 in 1950, #86 in 1980, #61 in 2000, #81 in 2010, and #140 in 2025. Of the 287,103 US boys named Nathaniel since records began, 22% were born in the 2000s, its biggest decade. The 1990s come next, with 52,577 babies. Since 2010, 57,978 more have been named Nathaniel.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Carlos, Cole, Alejandro, Colby, and Aidan.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Nathaniel ranked highest in District of Columbia, California, and Maryland.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | #71 | 12 |
| California | #81 | 453 |
| Maryland | #95 | 60 |
| New Jersey | #113 | 85 |
| South Carolina | #114 | 46 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Nathaniel is usually pronounced nuh-THAN-yuhl, with three syllables. It has nine letters, starts with N and ends in “-el”.
Middle names for Nathaniel
A few middle names that flow with Nathaniel: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Nathaniel
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Lists that include Nathaniel
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Nathaniel mean?
Nathaniel is a Hebrew name that means “God has given”.
What is the origin of the name Nathaniel?
Nathaniel has Hebrew roots. Nathaniel comes from the Hebrew Netanel, meaning God has given.
Is Nathaniel a popular name?
Yes. Nathaniel ranked #140 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Nathaniel a boy or girl name?
Nathaniel is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Nathaniel?
Nathaniel is usually pronounced nuh-THAN-yuhl. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings