Natanael
Boy name · #1229 in 2025 · Uniqueness 67/100
In 2025, 164 baby boys were named Natanael, placing it at #1229 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #2169, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 10,976 boys born in 2025 was named Natanael.
Babies named Natanael per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 63-year story
Natanael first appears in the Social Security records in 1962, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2020, when 176 boys were named Natanael — good for #1119 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Natanael against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Natanael in class?
Natanael scores 67 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. A high score means genuine rarity — your Natanael will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Natanael is most common
Geography matters for names, and Natanael is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Natanaels were CA (34), TX (26), FL (12), NY (9), NC (8). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Natanael
Statistically, parents drawn to Natanael tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Mikael, Isael, Ishmael, Mikhael, and Yisrael.
MikaelIsaelIshmaelMikhaelYisraelNaelAbimaelJahaziel
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Natanael | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 164 | #1227 |
| 2024 | 154 | #1275 |
| 2023 | 116 | #1518 |
| 2022 | 118 | #1523 |
| 2021 | 138 | #1339 |
| 2020 | 176 | #1119 |
| 2019 | 94 | #1691 |
| 2018 | 43 | #2796 |
| 2017 | 53 | #2417 |
| 2016 | 51 | #2477 |
| 2015 | 63 | #2169 |
| 2014 | 62 | #2175 |
| 2013 | 50 | #2461 |
| 2012 | 53 | #2380 |
| 2011 | 46 | #2626 |
| 2010 | 64 | #2100 |
| 2009 | 69 | #2010 |
| 2008 | 56 | #2327 |
| 2007 | 59 | #2235 |
| 2006 | 67 | #1994 |
| 2005 | 55 | #2182 |
| 2004 | 54 | #2164 |
| 2003 | 60 | #1936 |
| 2002 | 51 | #2092 |
| 2001 | 56 | #1935 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Natanael a popular boy name?
Natanael ranked #1229 among boys in 2025 with 164 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2169.
When was the name Natanael most popular?
Natanael peaked in 2020, when 176 American boys received the name (ranked #1119 that year). Since 2020 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Natanael?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 10,976 newborn American boys was named Natanael. It scores 67/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.