Nathanael
MeaningGod has given · Hebrew
- US rank
- #632
- Syllables
- 3
- Peak
- #405 in 1998
442 babies were named Nathanael in the US in 2025. It has climbed 86 places in five years.
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million boys, 1915–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Nathanael you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Nathanael
Nathanael West
American writer and screenwriter (1903–1940)
Choose Nathanael and your child shares a first name with Nathanael West, an American writer and screenwriter. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Nathanael, like who?” Nathanael West's Wikipedia article is available in 36 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Nathanael West on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)- How commonAbout 1 in every 3,864 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Nathanael, 442 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Nathanael would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryNathanael first shows up in US birth records in 1915, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 110 years since.
- Best yearIts best year was 1998, when it reached #405.
- TrendNathanael has climbed 86 places in the US rankings over the last five years and now sits at #632. Fast risers like this often keep climbing, so expect to hear it more.
- Where it's lovedNathanael is most popular in South Dakota, where it ranks #257, followed by Nevada (#362) and Georgia (#428). It's in the top 1,000 in 25 states.
- MeaningIn Hebrew, Nathanael means “God has given”.
About the name Nathanael
Nathanael is a boy name meaning “God has given”. It has 9 letters and 3 syllables, starting with N and ending in “-ael”. US birth records list Nathanael for boys from 1915 to 2025, in 98 of those 111 years. Its best year was 1998, when it ranked #405 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #632, with 442 babies.
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 4.3 | 233,645 boys |
| 1920s | 2.1 | 480,769 boys |
| 1930s | 4.8 | 210,084 boys |
| 1940s | 4.1 | 243,902 boys |
| 1950s | 3.9 | 257,069 boys |
| 1960s | 9.3 | 107,759 boys |
| 1970s | 91 | 10,964 boys |
| 1980s | 191 | 5,248 boys |
| 1990s | 237 | 4,211 boys |
| 2000s | 286 | 3,494 boys |
| 2010s | 228 | 4,390 boys |
| 2020s | 213 | 4,695 boys |
Questions about the name Nathanael
What does the name Nathanael mean?
Nathanael means “God has given” in Hebrew.
Is Nathanael a boy or girl name?
Nathanael is a boy name.
How popular is the name Nathanael?
Nathanael ranked #632 for US boys in 2025, given to 442 babies. Its best year was 1998 (#405).