Nathanial
Boy name · #3455 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Nathanial? In official American birth records, Nathanial has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 33 baby boys were named Nathanial, placing it at #3455 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #2486, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 54,545 boys born in 2025 was named Nathanial.
Babies named Nathanial per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Nathanial first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1999, when 371 boys were named Nathanial — good for #545 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 Nathanial against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Nathanial in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Nathanial is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Nathanial will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Nathanial is most common
State-level data for Nathanial is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Nathanial
Statistically, parents drawn to Nathanial tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Marshal, Mikal, Pascual, Nabeel, and Montrell.
MarshalMikalPascualNabeelMontrellCristobalJohnmichaelIsreal
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Nathanial | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 33 | #3450 |
| 2024 | 30 | #3693 |
| 2023 | 32 | #3566 |
| 2022 | 20 | #4850 |
| 2021 | 32 | #3497 |
| 2020 | 30 | #3570 |
| 2019 | 33 | #3426 |
| 2018 | 35 | #3240 |
| 2017 | 54 | #2388 |
| 2016 | 51 | #2477 |
| 2015 | 50 | #2486 |
| 2014 | 62 | #2175 |
| 2013 | 86 | #1709 |
| 2012 | 96 | #1617 |
| 2011 | 129 | #1319 |
| 2010 | 182 | #1056 |
| 2009 | 193 | #1014 |
| 2008 | 219 | #926 |
| 2007 | 264 | #808 |
| 2006 | 297 | #727 |
| 2005 | 286 | #713 |
| 2004 | 295 | #682 |
| 2003 | 327 | #627 |
| 2002 | 307 | #635 |
| 2001 | 292 | #638 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Nathanial?
In official American birth records, the name Nathanial first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Nathanial a popular boy name?
Nathanial ranked #3455 among boys in 2025 with 33 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2486.
When was the name Nathanial most popular?
Nathanial peaked in 1999, when 371 American boys received the name (ranked #545 that year). Since 1999 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Nathanial?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 54,545 newborn American boys was named Nathanial. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.