Natalee
A feminine name of French origin meaning "Christmas Day baby".
Name Census estimates that about 9,942 living Americans carry the first name Natalee. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Natalee today is around 21 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Natalee births was 2006 (603 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Natalee. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
9.9K
~ 1 in 34,475 Americans
Peak year
2006
603 babies that year
Average age
21
years old
2024 SSA rank
#2,255
Tracked since 1919
Popularity
Natalee: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Natalee from the 1910s through to the 2020s, spanning 12 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 3,930 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Natalee by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Natalee during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Natalees live
The SSA's state-level files cover 43 states and territories. California, Texas, Ohio recorded the most babies named Natalee, while South Dakota, Montana, New Mexico recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 176 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Natalee
Natalee is a feminine given name with origins that can be traced back to the Latin language. The name is derived from the Latin word "natalis," which means "birth" or "birthday." It is closely related to the name Natalie, and the two names share a similar meaning and linguistic roots.
In its earliest form, the name was likely used to commemorate a child's birth or to signify the day of their nativity. As Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire, the name gained additional significance as it was associated with the birth of Christ, which is celebrated on Christmas or the Nativity.
While the name Natalee does not have a direct connection to any specific ancient texts or religious scriptures, its Latin roots and association with the concept of birth likely contributed to its popularity and use throughout various cultures and time periods.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Natalee can be found in historical records from the Middle Ages. During this time, the name was commonly used in regions with strong Roman Catholic traditions, such as parts of Europe and Latin America.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Natalee. One such person was Natalee Holloway, an American teenager who gained international attention after her disappearance during a high school graduation trip to Aruba in 2005. Her case remains unsolved to this day and has sparked discussions about travel safety and the challenges of investigating crimes across international borders.
Another famous Natalee was Natalee Armistead Maddox Hodges (1863-1920), an American author and educator. She was a prominent figure in the literary circles of her time and was known for her contributions to the field of African American literature and education.
In the realm of sports, Natalee Gedgowd (born 1997) is a Canadian soccer player who has represented her country at various international tournaments, including the FIFA Women's World Cup.
Natalee Wavo (born 1986) is a renowned fashion designer from Papua New Guinea. Her unique designs, which often incorporate traditional Melanesian motifs and techniques, have been showcased on international runways and have garnered critical acclaim.
Lastly, Natalee Loeb (born 1976) is an American visual artist and photographer. Her work, which often explores themes of identity, body image, and societal expectations, has been exhibited in galleries and museums across the United States and abroad.
People
Natalee + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Natalee as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with N
Other first names starting with N with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Natalee: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Natalee?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 9,942 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Natalee going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 34,475 US residents.
Is Natalee a common name?
We classify Natalee as "Rare". It ranks above 97.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 10,244 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Natalee most popular?
The single biggest year for Natalee was 2006, when 603 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Natalee is about 21 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Natalee a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Natalee in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.