Daniel first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Daniel has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Daniel

A masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my judge".

Popularity of Daniel by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Daniel is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 100% of people named Daniel being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 8,356 male babies and 18 female babies born with the name Daniel.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 18 baby girls were named Daniel in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 8,356 18
2022 9,047 11
2021 9,119 12
2020 9,500 19
2019 10,570 17
2018 11,274 19
2017 11,738 14
2016 12,983 25
2015 13,532 20
2014 13,949 25
2013 14,311 29
2012 14,298 19
2011 15,296 25
2010 15,856 30
2009 17,557 40
2008 19,018 50
2007 20,258 30
2006 20,076 47
2005 20,227 50
2004 21,000 76
2003 21,063 53
2002 21,337 38
2001 21,011 61
2000 22,334 63
1999 22,702 64
1998 23,161 74
1997 23,948 80
1996 25,120 76
1995 26,726 104
1994 28,060 131
1993 28,688 130
1992 29,156 147
1991 30,927 166
1990 33,827 148
1989 35,011 188
1988 34,715 281
1987 35,870 264
1986 36,577 288
1985 38,563 295
1984 36,537 269
1983 34,753 258
1982 32,660 255
1981 30,995 213
1980 29,893 219
1979 28,528 202
1978 26,443 177
1977 26,075 193
1976 24,713 172
1975 23,823 165
1974 23,838 153

The history of the first name Daniel

The name Daniel has its origins in the Hebrew language and culture, dating back to ancient times. It is derived from the Hebrew name "Daniyyel," which means "God is my judge" or "God has judged." The name is first mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the Book of Daniel, which tells the story of a young Jewish man named Daniel who was taken captive to Babylon in the 6th century BC.

Daniel is a prominent figure in the Bible, known for his faith and wisdom. The Book of Daniel recounts his ability to interpret dreams and visions, as well as his survival in the lions' den after refusing to worship the Babylonian king. The name Daniel became popular among Jews and later among Christians, who revered the biblical figure.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Daniel dates back to the 3rd century BC, when it was found on an inscription from ancient Israel. In the New Testament, the name is mentioned as belonging to one of the sons of David, the celebrated king of ancient Israel.

Throughout history, there have been many notable individuals named Daniel. Some of the most famous include:

  1. Daniel, the biblical prophet from the 6th century BC, as mentioned earlier.
  2. Daniel Defoe (1660-1731), the English writer best known for his novel "Robinson Crusoe."
  3. Daniel Boone (1734-1820), the American pioneer and explorer who blazed trails through the wilderness of Kentucky and Missouri.
  4. Daniel Webster (1782-1852), the renowned American statesman, lawyer, and orator who served as a U.S. Senator and Secretary of State.
  5. Daniel Day-Lewis (born 1957), the British actor widely regarded as one of the greatest of his generation, known for his roles in films such as "There Will Be Blood" and "Lincoln."

The name Daniel has endured across cultures and religions, remaining a popular choice for parents throughout the centuries. Its biblical origins and association with the virtues of faith, wisdom, and perseverance have contributed to its longevity and appeal.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Daniel was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Daniel, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Daniel first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 14, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/daniel-meaning-and-history/.

"Daniel first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/daniel-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 14 December, 2024

Daniel first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/daniel-meaning-and-history/.

Search for a name

Search for a first or last name to learn more about its origin, meaning, and more.

Simple as that.