Search for names here!
Origin, Meaning, And History Of Nathaniel
The name Nathaniel is derived from the Hebrew name Netan’el, which consists of two components: “Netan,” meaning “gift,” and “El,” meaning God. The name Nathaniel signifies “Gift of God.”
In the Hebrew Bible, there are two individuals with the name Nathaniel. One is a prince of the tribe of Issachar and the other is a sibling of King David. In the New Testament, Nathanael is mentioned as one of the earliest followers of Jesus Christ in the Gospel of John. The name Nathaniel is derived from the biblical account of this apostle, and it is spelled Nathanael in both the Old and New Testaments of the Jewish and Christian Bibles.
The name Nathaniel and its variants have become increasingly popular, which include Natan, Nataniel, Nathan, Nathanael, and Netanel. The name can be spelled phonetically as Na-than-yell, nuh-thaen-yuhl, or Nuh-thaen-yehl. While Nathaniel is generally used as a boy’s name, it has also inspired variations of girls’ names such as Natalie, Natalia, and Natasha.
Nathaniel is a popular name that has been used in various works of fiction. Some of the most well-known fictional characters with the name Nathaniel include Nathaniel Fitzwilliam “Nate” Archibald from the TV show “Gossip Girl,” Nathaniel Ayers from the movie “The Soloist,” and Nathaniel Williams from the movie “The Birth of a Nation.” In the world of comics, Nathaniel Adams is the secret identity of the superhero Captain Atom from DC Comics, while Nathaniel Essex is the real name of the X-Men villain Mister Sinister from Marvel Comics. Other fictional characters with the name Nathaniel include Nathaniel Gorham from the TV show “Sleepy Hollow,” Nathaniel Fisher from the TV show “Six Feet Under,” and Nathaniel “Natty” Bumppo, the protagonist of several novels by James Fenimore Cooper, including “The Last of the Mohicans.”
How To Pronounce Nathaniel?
Famous People With The Name Nathaniel
- Nathaniel RateliffAmerican singer-songwriter known for his soulful folk and rock music with his band “Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats”
- Nathaniel AyersAmerican musician, the subject of the 2009 film The Soloist
- Nathaniel BatesTwo-term mayor of Richmond, California
- Nathaniel BowditchAmerican mathematician, father of modern maritime navigation
- Nathaniel ClyneEnglish professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Crystal Palace
- Nathaniel HawthorneAmerican novelist, best known for The Scarlet Letter and The House of the Seven Gables
- Nathaniel WoodhullAmerican military officer known for his service in the American Revolutionary War
- Nathaniel PhilbrickAmerican author and historian known for his works of historical non-fiction, including “Mayflower” and “In the Heart of the Sea”
- Nathaniel LubellAmerican Olympic fencer won the United States Foil Fencing Championship in 1948
Nathaniel On The Popularity Chart
Nathaniel has seen a marginal rise and fall in its popularity and ranking. Check out these graphs to gauge its performance over the past few decades.
Popularity Over Time
Nathaniel has remained a popular baby name. After reaching a high in 2002, other names gradually surpassed it in popularity.
Source: Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
Nathaniel was ranking well in the 1980s, but it gradually declined in the recent past. Here is a graphic representation depicting its position.
Source: Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound As Nathaniel
Did you like how Nathaniel sounds? Then check out this list of similar-sounding name options.
Names With Similar Meaning As Nathaniel
If you liked the meaning behind Nathaniel but are looking for other name options, here’s a list for you.
Name Numerology For Nathaniel
