Nathaniel Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Nathaniel is a name of Hebrew origin meaning 'gift of God.' Its linguistic path traces from Netanel in Hebrew to Nathanael in Greek, and finally to Nathaniel in English. It is associated with traits of honesty and integrity due to its biblical background. The name has enjoyed popularity since the Middle Ages and remains well-regarded today.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Nathaniel"
Pronunciation
/nəˈθæn.jəl/
Origin
Hebrew
Etymology
The name Nathaniel comes from the Hebrew name Netanel, which means 'gift of God.' It is composed of the elements 'natan,' meaning 'to give,' and 'el,' meaning 'God.'
Meaning
gift of God
Language Evolution
Netanel (Hebrew), Nathanael (Greek), Nathaniel (English)
Biblical Background
Nathaniel is mentioned in the New Testament as a disciple of Jesus, known for his honesty and integrity.
Historical Usage
The name Nathaniel gained popularity in Europe during the Middle Ages, particularly among Jewish communities, and became more widely used in Christian contexts during the Renaissance.
Variants & Derivatives
Nathan, Nate, Nat
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Nathaniel is viewed as a classic name that conveys sophistication and a strong character. It has a positive connotation and is often associated with intelligence and kindness.
Famous People
Nathaniel Hawthorne, American novelist, Nathaniel Bacon, colonial leader, Nathaniel Philbrick, American author
📊 Nathaniel Name Trend Analysis
Girl Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Boy Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Explore More Nathaniel Name Visualizations
✨ Nathaniel Name Meaning & Significance
Popularity Trend
Highly Popular name with 6,829 peak births in 2002
Geographic Spread
Popular across 51 US states, with strongest presence in South Carolina
Historical Span
Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends
Generational Impact
Influenced 14 different American generations with varying popularity
🔊 Same Pronunciation Names for "Nathaniel" - Complete Guide (10 Names)
Discover the ultimate list of homophone names and same pronunciation names that sound identical to "Nathaniel". These names share the same pronunciation but may have different spellings, offering alternative options for parents seeking similar-sounding names. Whether you're looking for American or British pronunciation variations, this comprehensive guide includes 10 carefully curated names that maintain the same phonetic sound.
Why explore same pronunciation names? Many parents search for homophone names to find alternative spellings that might be more unique or culturally significant. This ultimate list covers both American and British pronunciation patterns, ensuring you find the perfect variation of "Nathaniel" that fits your preferences.
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Nathaniel"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Nathaniel"
"Nathaniel" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 178th of 7545 | 12,126 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 187th of 6773 | 13,960 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 214th of 7552 | 22,144 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 159th of 10718 | 27,542 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 77th of 16616 | 69,066 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 64th of 24088 | 97,808 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 118th of 23106 | 40,482 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 5003rd of 9107 | 52 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 3628th of 9204 | 116 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 3710th of 12526 | 203 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 3745th of 19264 | 270 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 4481st of 27321 | 323 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 9391st of 35406 | 174 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 20416th of 30306 | 24 |
Regional Popularity of "Nathaniel" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
27.90% 395th/1416 |
17.48% 241st/1379 |
4.48% 106th/2366 |
50.70% 579th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
20.12% 311th/1546 |
14.14% 220th/1556 |
4.97% 117th/2353 |
37.10% 574th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
12.62% 281st/2227 |
8.81% 214th/2430 |
5.19% 148th/2853 |
15.17% 421st/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
4.90% 144th/2937 |
4.34% 151st/3483 |
4.55% 160th/3518 |
4.35% 176th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
1.79% 66th/3685 |
1.83% 82nd/4475 |
1.58% 82nd/5194 |
1.47% 93rd/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
1.53% 70th/4582 |
1.28% 66th/5164 |
0.86% 63rd/7313 |
0.96% 72nd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
3.87% 154th/3984 |
2.09% 94th/4487 |
1.76% 120th/6822 |
1.64% 103rd/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Nathaniel" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - |
100.00% 5194th/5194 |
83.08% 5248th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- |
100.00% 5164th/5164 |
70.46% 5153rd/7313 |
- |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Nathaniel"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Nathaniel" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.
Comprehensive Regional & Generational Popularity Trends of "Nathaniel" in the United States
The name Nathaniel is most popular in South Carolina, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is declining in usage, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been gradually declining. From 2020-2022, Nathaniel has been falling for male in MidWest, falling for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, too falling for male in South, stalled for female in South, too falling for male in West, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been falling for male in MidWest, falling for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, falling for male in South, stalled for female in South, falling for male in West, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Nathaniel' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 178th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 187th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 214th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 159th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 77th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 64th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 118th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 5003rd out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 3628th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 3710th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 3745th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 4481st out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 9391st out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 20416th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Nathaniel' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.