Natnael
An Ethiopian masculine name meaning "God has given".
Name Census estimates that about 371 living Americans carry the first name Natnael. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Natnael today is around 14 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Natnael births was 2016 (26 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Natnael. 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
371
~ 1 in 923,866 Americans
Peak year
2016
26 babies that year
Average age
14
years old
2024 SSA rank
#9,573
Tracked since 1991
Popularity
Natnael: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Natnael from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 169 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Natnael remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Natnael 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 Natnael during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Natnaels live
Origin
Meaning and history of Natnael
The name Natnael originates from the Amharic language spoken in Ethiopia and Eritrea. It is derived from the Hebrew name Nathaniel, which means "gift of God" or "God has given". The name has its roots in Biblical times and appears in the New Testament as the name of one of Jesus's disciples.
In its original Hebrew form, the name is spelled נְתַנְאֵל (Nəṯanᵊʼel). The Amharic version, Natnael, likely evolved from the Arabic transcription of the Hebrew name, نَاتَانِيَال (Nataniyal). The name has been popular among Ethiopian Christians for centuries and is associated with the ancient Semitic cultures of the region.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Natnael was Natnael Wossen, an Ethiopian prince and military leader who lived in the late 18th century. He played a significant role in the conflicts between the kingdoms of Shewa and Gonder during that period.
Another notable figure was Natnael Imru, an Ethiopian diplomat and politician who served as the Foreign Minister of Ethiopia from 1923 to 1926. He was a prominent figure in the early years of modern Ethiopia and played a role in the country's diplomatic relations with other nations.
In the realm of literature, Natnael Yeshitila (1902-1981) was an influential Amharic writer and poet. He is considered one of the pioneers of modern Amharic literature and his works explored themes of social justice and cultural identity.
Moving to the 20th century, Natnael Mekonnen (1923-1978) was an Ethiopian military officer and politician. He served as the Prime Minister of Ethiopia from 1957 to 1960 and played a key role in the country's political landscape during the reign of Emperor Haile Selassie.
More recently, Natnael Berhane (born 1990) is a contemporary Eritrean-American singer and songwriter. He is known for his contributions to the Eritrean musical scene and has released several popular albums that blend traditional Eritrean styles with modern influences.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have borne the name Natnael throughout history, reflecting its deep roots in the cultures of the Horn of Africa and its enduring significance across various fields.
People
Natnael + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Natnael 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
Natnael: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Natnael?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 371 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Natnael 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 923,866 US residents.
Is Natnael a common name?
We classify Natnael as "Very Rare". It ranks above 81.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 375 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Natnael most popular?
The single biggest year for Natnael was 2016, when 26 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Natnael is about 14 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Natnael a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Natnael in the SSA data are male. 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.