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

Popularity of Nathaniel by gender

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

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 2,507 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Nathaniel.

The history of the first name Nathaniel

The name Nathaniel has its origins in the Hebrew language. It is derived from the Hebrew words "Natan" meaning "given" and "El" meaning "God". The full meaning of Nathaniel translates to "gift of God" or "God has given".

The name is thought to have first appeared in the Old Testament of the Bible. Nathaniel was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, as mentioned in the Gospel of John. Some biblical scholars believe that Nathaniel was another name for the apostle Bartholomew.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Nathaniel can be found in the writings of the Jewish philosopher Philo of Alexandria, who lived from around 20 BC to 50 AD. Philo mentioned a Nathaniel as one of the sons of Semei in his work "On the Virtues".

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals named Nathaniel. One of the most famous was Nathaniel Hawthorne, the renowned American novelist and short story writer who lived from 1804 to 1864. His works include "The Scarlet Letter" and "The House of the Seven Gables".

Another famous Nathaniel was Sir Nathaniel Dance, an English portrait painter who lived from 1735 to 1811. He was a member of the Royal Academy of Arts and painted portraits of King George III and other members of the British royal family.

In the field of science, Nathaniel Bowditch was an American mathematician and astronomer who lived from 1773 to 1838. He wrote "The New American Practical Navigator", which became a standard reference work for sailors.

Nathaniel Philbrick, born in 1956, is a contemporary American historian and author. He has written several books on maritime history, including the award-winning "In the Heart of the Sea" and "Mayflower".

Finally, Nathaniel Rateliff is an American singer-songwriter and the lead singer of the folk rock band Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats. He was born in 1978 and has gained popularity in recent years for his soulful and distinctive voice.

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 Nathaniel was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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