Nathanael
Boy name · #632 in 2025 · Rare
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. 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?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Nathanael is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Nathanael will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Nathanael is most common
Geography matters for names, and Nathanael is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Nathanael is most common in GA (0.5 per 1,000), MD (0.4 per 1,000), VA (0.4 per 1,000), MA (0.4 per 1,000), FL (0.4 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.3 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Nathanael is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
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. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it 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.