Nathaniel
Boy name · #140 in 2025 · Uniqueness 48/100
Nathaniel ranks #140 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 2,565 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #96, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 702 boys born in 2025 was named Nathaniel.
Babies named Nathaniel per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Nathaniel first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 60 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2002, when 6,813 boys were named Nathaniel — good for #62 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 Nathaniel against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Nathaniel in class?
Nathaniel scores 48 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 Nathaniel is most common
Geography matters for names, and Nathaniel is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Nathaniels were CA (453), TX (335), FL (162), NY (141), NC (101). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Nathaniel
Statistically, parents drawn to Nathaniel tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Emmanuel, Miguel, Nicolas, Gabriel, and Rafael.
EmmanuelMiguelNicolasGabrielRafaelAlejandroChristianNicholas
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Nathaniel | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,565 | #140 |
| 2024 | 2,520 | #144 |
| 2023 | 2,533 | #143 |
| 2022 | 2,706 | #138 |
| 2021 | 2,834 | #133 |
| 2020 | 2,930 | #125 |
| 2019 | 3,097 | #122 |
| 2018 | 3,391 | #116 |
| 2017 | 3,541 | #112 |
| 2016 | 3,887 | #103 |
| 2015 | 4,234 | #96 |
| 2014 | 4,317 | #94 |
| 2013 | 4,538 | #91 |
| 2012 | 4,795 | #84 |
| 2011 | 4,980 | #84 |
| 2010 | 5,110 | #81 |
| 2009 | 5,426 | #75 |
| 2008 | 5,858 | #77 |
| 2007 | 6,067 | #82 |
| 2006 | 6,627 | #69 |
| 2005 | 6,689 | #67 |
| 2004 | 6,675 | #68 |
| 2003 | 6,666 | #63 |
| 2002 | 6,813 | #62 |
| 2001 | 6,646 | #61 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Nathaniel a popular boy name?
Nathaniel ranked #140 among boys in 2025 with 2,565 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #96.
When was the name Nathaniel most popular?
Nathaniel peaked in 2002, when 6,813 American boys received the name (ranked #62 that year). Since 2002 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Nathaniel?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 702 newborn American boys was named Nathaniel. It scores 48/100 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.