Nathanial
Boy name · #3455 in 2025 · Uniqueness 74/100
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, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
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?
Nathanial scores 74 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 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 sparse in 2025 — the name's footprint is too small for most states to report (the SSA suppresses counts under 5 per state for privacy).
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
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. It scores 74/100 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.