Baby Name Popularity Profile

Daniel

Data-driven SSA statistics, rankings, and historical trends for Daniel.

✦ God is my judge 🌍 Hebrew biblical traditional
National Rank (2025) #22
All-Time Peak Rank #5 Achieved 1985
Total U.S. Births 1,982,812 since 1880
Unisex Distribution 99.8% Boy / 0.2% Girl Overwhelmingly Male
First Recorded 1880 Last seen: 2025
Peak Decade 1980s 38,559 births in 1985
💡 The Daniel Vibe: Considered a Perennial Favorite. A historic staple that has maintained dominant national popularity for over half a century.

🌍 Meaning & Etymology

Primary Meaning God is my judge
Language Origin Hebrew
Origin Type single
Derived from the Hebrew name Daniyyel, meaning 'God is my judge'.
Common Nicknames
Dan Danny
Alternative Spellings
Danial Danyal
Pronunciation: DAN-yel
Themes & Categories
biblical traditional
Etymology confidence: High

📖 The Story Behind Daniel

According to SSA data, Daniel achieved its highest historical rank of #5 in 1985. Its highest annual registration volume occurred in 1985 with 38,559 babies. Between 2015 and 2025, modern registrations have decreased by 40.3%. Overall, the name has maintained a ranked presence for 146 consecutive years.

📊 Factual Timeline & Current Trajectory (1880 – 2025)

Registration footprint of Daniel across 145 years of SSA data.

5-Year Trajectory Declining
10-Year Shift -40.3% Decline
18801920196020002025

📈 Popularity Milestones & Volatility

Busiest Year on Record 38,559 births in 1985
Years in Top 100 146 yrs
Years in Top 500 146 yrs
Registry Streak 146 yrs
Historical Volatility Very Stable
Largest 1-Year Jump N/A
Decade-by-Decade Registration Volumes
1880s: 5,679
1890s: 5,185
1900s: 5,036
1910s: 23,978
1920s: 43,407
1930s: 47,998
1940s: 112,778
1950s: 243,727
1960s: 242,020
1970s: 244,454
1980s: 345,537
1990s: 272,360
2000s: 203,975
2010s: 133,952
2020s: 52,726

📐 Sound & Spelling Structure

Phonetic Syllables Dan-iel
Letter Count 6 letters
Spelling Complexity Moderate
Length Percentile Longer than 25.7% of names
Linguistic Profile: It is an isogram, meaning no two letters are repeated. Longer than 25.7% of SSA names. Starts with D, a letter used by only 6.6% of SSA names.

🛠️ Sibling & Surname Cadence Tool

Enter a surname or sibling name to test how it pairs with Daniel.

📍 Authentic State & Regional Rankings

Highest Ranking State Alaska
Top States Alaska, California, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, Nevada
States with Data 51
State 2025 Rank Total Births Peak Year 5-Yr Velocity
Alaska #19 4,212 1982 Insufficient historical volume
California #18 262,947 1990 23.1% Decline
Wisconsin #59 52,095 1962 12.0% Decline
Massachusetts #27 64,252 1985 24.5% Decline
Nevada #19 8,674 2006 18.9% Decline
Connecticut #37 28,080 1986 33.0% Decline
New Hampshire #32 8,016 1987 +17.9% Growth
Arizona #15 30,783 1985 +1.4% Growth
Delaware #25 4,996 1990 36.1% Decline
Minnesota #41 44,735 1962 +8.0% Growth
New Jersey #17 67,014 1989 17.2% Decline
New Mexico #17 12,771 1985 28.8% Decline
Oregon #20 21,209 1983 3.8% Decline
New York #18 179,652 1985 25.8% Decline
Illinois #21 113,914 1985 23.0% Decline
Montana #39 7,007 1955 7.7% Decline
Rhode Island #44 8,327 1981 Insufficient historical volume
Wyoming Unranked 3,031 1981 Insufficient historical volume
Maine #69 9,829 1960 Insufficient historical volume
Washington #13 35,950 1989 +7.4% Growth
Vermont Unranked 3,813 1986 Insufficient historical volume
Colorado #28 26,361 1985 7.7% Decline
Michigan #30 82,008 1957 +3.1% Growth
Hawaii #18 6,585 1984 Insufficient historical volume
Pennsylvania #22 112,111 1957 14.1% Decline
Florida #24 71,477 1985 26.5% Decline
District of Columbia #16 9,256 1988 18.8% Decline
Maryland #28 30,417 1988 38.2% Decline
Ohio #51 91,942 1957 22.6% Decline
Nebraska #60 14,520 1958 9.8% Decline
South Dakota #43 6,443 1955 Insufficient historical volume
Idaho #43 7,372 1985 6.7% Decline
Iowa #52 24,138 1958 +18.4% Growth
Indiana #32 41,860 1956 10.5% Decline
North Dakota #56 6,010 1954 Insufficient historical volume
Texas #17 132,769 1985 19.9% Decline
Utah #42 14,133 1981 17.6% Decline
Missouri #38 37,677 1985 +13.4% Growth
Kansas #27 16,697 1957 +17.9% Growth
Virginia #13 35,657 1985 +0.9% Growth
North Carolina #25 37,087 1985 Stable
South Carolina #21 18,230 1989 +13.8% Growth
West Virginia #50 11,687 1954 18.9% Decline
Georgia #18 34,860 1985 4.0% Decline
Kentucky #52 21,043 1982 11.2% Decline
Tennessee #33 25,507 1984 +3.1% Growth
Oklahoma #47 16,047 1983 27.9% Decline
Louisiana #61 21,102 1985 15.4% Decline
Alabama #26 20,224 1984 +8.7% Growth
Arkansas #43 10,561 1985 8.2% Decline
Mississippi #44 11,539 1985 +17.9% Growth

👨‍👩‍👧 Sibling Name Suggestions

👦 Brother Suggestions
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👧 Sister Suggestions
Sarah Ashley Rachel Nicole Lauren Fallon Kendra Simone Cassie Meghan

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