Names › Boys' names › N › Nathaniel
Nathaniel
Meaning: God has given · Origin: Hebrew · Gender: usually a boy's name
Origin & history
From Hebrew Netan'el, 'God has given'. Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote The Scarlet Letter.
Famous people named Nathaniel
- Nathaniel Hawthorne (novelist)
Nicknames
Nate, Nat, Nathan
Variants & related names
Nathanael, Natanael
Nathaniel name art
A free preview of a printable “Nathaniel” poster with its meaning — great for a nursery, a birthday or a gift.
Instant download, no subscription. Not printed or shipped — you get a high-resolution PNG to print at home or at a print shop.
FAQ
What does the name Nathaniel mean?
Nathaniel means “God has given”. It comes from Hebrew.
Is Nathaniel a popular name?
Yes — Nathaniel has been one of the most popular boys' names in the United States in the 2020s, according to US Social Security Administration baby-name data.
What are nicknames for Nathaniel?
Nate, Nat, Nathan.
What are other forms of Nathaniel?
Nathanael, Natanael.
Similar names
Jonah · Zachary · Toby · Jude · Jesse · Elliot
More: names starting with N · all boys' names
Sources: standard name etymology references (e.g. Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names); popularity from US SSA and UK ONS baby-name data. Meanings of old names are often debated — where scholars disagree we say so.