Baby Name Popularity Profile

Nathaniel

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

✦ Gift of God 🌍 Hebrew biblical traditional
National Rank (2025) #140
All-Time Peak Rank #60 Achieved 1998
Total U.S. Births 287,103 since 1880
Unisex Distribution 99.9% Boy / 0.1% Girl Male Archetype
First Recorded 1880 Last seen: 2025
Peak Decade 2000s 6,813 births in 2002
💡 The Nathaniel Vibe: Considered a Modern Trend. A contemporary choice reflecting current cultural naming rhythms and popularity brackets.

🌍 Meaning & Etymology

Primary Meaning Gift of God
Language Origin Hebrew
Origin Type single
Derived from the Hebrew name Netan'el, meaning 'God has given' or 'gift of God'.
Common Nicknames
Nate Nat
Alternative Spellings
Nathanael Nataniel
Pronunciation: nuh-THAN-ee-el
Themes & Categories
biblical traditional
Etymology confidence: High

📖 The Story Behind Nathaniel

According to SSA data, Nathaniel achieved its highest historical rank of #60 in 1998. Its highest annual registration volume occurred in 2002 with 6,813 babies. Between 2015 and 2025, modern registrations have decreased by 39.4%. Overall, the name has maintained a ranked presence for 146 consecutive years.

📊 Factual Timeline & Current Trajectory (1880 – 2025)

Registration footprint of Nathaniel across 145 years of SSA data.

5-Year Trajectory Declining
10-Year Shift -39.4% Decline
18801920196020002025

📈 Popularity Milestones & Volatility

Busiest Year on Record 6,813 births in 2002
Years in Top 100 38 yrs
Years in Top 500 146 yrs
Registry Streak 146 yrs
Historical Volatility Moderately Volatile
Largest 1-Year Jump N/A
Decade-by-Decade Registration Volumes
1880s: 551
1890s: 684
1900s: 1,143
1910s: 4,795
1920s: 7,794
1930s: 7,411
1940s: 9,489
1950s: 12,389
1960s: 10,191
1970s: 19,185
1980s: 38,652
1990s: 52,577
2000s: 64,264
2010s: 41,890
2020s: 16,088

📐 Sound & Spelling Structure

Phonetic Syllables Nat-han-iel
Letter Count 9 letters
Spelling Complexity Complex
Length Percentile Longer than 92.2% of names
Linguistic Profile: Longer than 92.2% of SSA names. Starts with N, a letter used by only 3.6% of SSA names.

🛠️ Sibling & Surname Cadence Tool

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

📍 Authentic State & Regional Rankings

Highest Ranking State South Carolina
Top States South Carolina, Alaska, District of Columbia, Arizona, New Mexico
States with Data 51
State 2025 Rank Total Births Peak Year 5-Yr Velocity
South Carolina #114 7,961 1950 +70.4% Growth
Alaska Unranked 755 2000 Insufficient historical volume
District of Columbia #71 2,203 1987 Insufficient historical volume
Arizona #139 5,425 2006 23.8% Decline
New Mexico #133 2,258 2003 Insufficient historical volume
Florida #135 14,345 2005 6.9% Decline
Virginia #131 9,063 2004 23.6% Decline
Nevada #156 1,318 2007 45.9% Decline
Georgia #164 10,830 2005 2.6% Decline
Maryland #95 5,715 2006 10.4% Decline
North Carolina #120 10,337 2002 +2.0% Growth
New Hampshire #153 1,109 1998 Insufficient historical volume
Alabama #198 6,312 2000 32.6% Decline
Oregon #185 3,076 1999 11.5% Decline
Washington #180 5,456 1999 19.7% Decline
Colorado #180 4,045 2004 17.0% Decline
Delaware #235 687 2005 Insufficient historical volume
Mississippi #327 4,225 1948 Insufficient historical volume
Arkansas #218 3,436 2004 Insufficient historical volume
Tennessee #158 6,426 2002 +67.6% Growth
Maine #258 1,311 1998 Insufficient historical volume
California #81 29,564 2006 9.0% Decline
Indiana #157 6,960 2000 +6.0% Growth
Texas #118 20,974 2005 +5.0% Growth
Louisiana #203 4,917 1999 25.7% Decline
Wyoming Unranked 365 1981 Insufficient historical volume
Massachusetts #129 6,594 2002 11.3% Decline
Ohio #188 12,340 2000 20.7% Decline
Connecticut #127 2,917 2006 40.0% Decline
Hawaii #172 811 1996 Insufficient historical volume
Idaho #295 1,033 2000 Insufficient historical volume
Missouri #269 5,773 2001 49.0% Decline
Vermont Unranked 446 1999 Insufficient historical volume
Kentucky #162 4,443 2001 +9.7% Growth
Illinois #154 11,968 2000 38.9% Decline
Oklahoma #214 3,198 2001 17.9% Decline
West Virginia #322 2,169 2004 Insufficient historical volume
Michigan #303 8,563 2000 50.0% Decline
Pennsylvania #143 12,043 2002 +7.2% Growth
Wisconsin #202 4,401 2000 Insufficient historical volume
Kansas #272 2,327 1998 53.3% Decline
New York #138 16,996 2008 34.4% Decline
Montana #140 666 1985 Insufficient historical volume
New Jersey #113 5,990 2009 14.1% Decline
Utah #297 1,775 1997 Insufficient historical volume
Rhode Island Unranked 764 1998 Insufficient historical volume
Nebraska #226 1,530 2002 Insufficient historical volume
Minnesota #284 3,683 2002 Insufficient historical volume
South Dakota #291 597 2000 Insufficient historical volume
Iowa #325 2,234 1982 Insufficient historical volume
North Dakota #133 493 1985 Insufficient historical volume

👨‍👩‍👧 Sibling Name Suggestions

👦 Brother Suggestions
Cameron Malachi Isaiah Adrian Rafael Diego Christian Alejandro Emmanuel Jayden
👧 Sister Suggestions
Mackenzie Caroline Savannah Isabelle Abigail Madelyn Addison Brianna Isabel Alana

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