Given name & surname · also Greek
Nathaniel
“God has given”·“a gift from God”
Nathaniel is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “God has given” (Greek and Hebrew) and “a gift from God” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Original GreekΝαθαναήλ
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “God has given” (Greek and Hebrew) and “a gift from God” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Where it comes from
This spelling has been associated with Greek and Hebrew naming traditions.
How it developed
In English usage, Nathaniel developed from Ναθαναήλ.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Nathaniel through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 288,265
- 287,103 boys · 1,162 girls
- Most popular year
- 2002
- 6,829 babies
- 2025
- 2,565
- #140 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −22%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 2,565 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 140 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 21.9% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 6,813 in 2002. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (453). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 189,977 as a first name in 2020; 1,768 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Nathaniel’s family of names
In English usage, Nathaniel has a diminutive in Nate. Nathaniel shares a linguistic root with Natanaele. In French usage, Nathaniel has a conventional equivalent in the English form Nathan.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Nathaniel has relatives in 6 languages. Lines run from its Hebrew roots to each of them.
12 related names in 6 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 17
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 7
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 4
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Nathaniel
- Nathaniel HawthorneAmerican author (1804–1864)
- Nat King ColeAmerican singer and jazz pianist (1919–1965)
- Nathaniel ClyneEnglish association football player (born 1991)
- Nate DoggAmerican singer and rapper (1969-2011)
- Nathaniel ChalobahEnglish footballer (born 1994)
- Nathaniel BrownGerman association football playerborn 2003
- Nat PhillipsEnglish association football playerborn 1997
- Nathaniel Lord BrittonAmerican botanist and geologist (1859-1934)
- Jacob Rothschild, 4th Baron RothschildEnglish peer, investment banker and philanthropist (1936–2024)
Characters named Nathaniel: Kang the Conqueror (Marvel Comics), Nate Archibald (fictional character).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Nathaniel, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Zachary
“The Lord remembers” · “God is remembered”
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Theodore
“God” · “gift”
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Clayton
“from the town settled on clay”
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Alex
“helper and defender of mankind”
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Dennis
“a follower of Dionysus”
99% boys · 1% girls
Edgar
“a powerful and wealthy spearman”
>99% boys
Phillip
“one who loves horses”
>99% boys
Daniel
“God is my judge”
>99% boys