Nathanael
Boy name · #632 in 2025 · Uniqueness 49/100
Nathanael ranks #632 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 442 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #580, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 4,072 boys born in 2025 was named Nathanael.
Babies named Nathanael per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 110-year story
Nathanael first appears in the Social Security records in 1915, when 6 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2000, when 609 boys were named Nathanael — good for #408 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 Nathanael against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Nathanael in class?
Nathanael scores 49 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Nathanael is most common
Geography matters for names, and Nathanael is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Nathanaels were CA (64), TX (60), FL (38), GA (26), NY (24). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Nathanael
Statistically, parents drawn to Nathanael tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Misael, Israel, Emanuel, Rafael, and Ishmael.
MisaelIsraelEmanuelRafaelIshmaelNatanaelNikolasAriel
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Nathanael | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 442 | #632 |
| 2024 | 407 | #674 |
| 2023 | 369 | #719 |
| 2022 | 325 | #777 |
| 2021 | 317 | #780 |
| 2020 | 345 | #718 |
| 2019 | 348 | #710 |
| 2018 | 337 | #717 |
| 2017 | 402 | #644 |
| 2016 | 431 | #621 |
| 2015 | 480 | #580 |
| 2014 | 477 | #582 |
| 2013 | 471 | #557 |
| 2012 | 438 | #584 |
| 2011 | 433 | #579 |
| 2010 | 475 | #538 |
| 2009 | 586 | #466 |
| 2008 | 531 | #513 |
| 2007 | 598 | #462 |
| 2006 | 594 | #455 |
| 2005 | 577 | #448 |
| 2004 | 595 | #435 |
| 2003 | 539 | #466 |
| 2002 | 539 | #454 |
| 2001 | 544 | #446 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Nathanael a popular boy name?
Nathanael ranked #632 among boys in 2025 with 442 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #580.
When was the name Nathanael most popular?
Nathanael peaked in 2000, when 609 American boys received the name (ranked #408 that year). Since 2000 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Nathanael?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 4,072 newborn American boys was named Nathanael. It scores 49/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
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.