Boy · #12,135 in 2026

Nathanuel

Name: Popularity of the name Nathanuel in U.S. births, 1880–2026
Creator: U.S. Social Security Administration
License: https://www.ssa.gov/foia/
Keywords: Nathanuel, baby name, popularity, U.S., SSA, rankings

Current Rank

#12,135

Peak Rank

#5,486 (2008)

Total Babies

200

5-Yr Trend

Stable

1981

First Year

2013

Last Year

2008

Peak Year

#5486

Peak Rank

200

Total Count

Years Active

The Story of Nathanuel

Nathanuel first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1981, with 6 babies given the name that year. The name hit its high-water mark in 2008: 16 births, good for #5,486 nationwide. The 2000s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 51% of all recorded Nathanuels. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 2013 (5 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 200 Nathanuels have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1980s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

Top 10

11-50

51-100

101-500

500+

No data

Names that sound like Nathanuel

Phonetically similar names — useful when Nathanuel is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Nathaniel
Nathanael
Nathanial
Nathania
Methanal
National
Nominal
Nathanson
Newfangle
Noumenal
Nothnagel

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Nathanuel

What does the name Nathanuel mean?

Nathanuel is a boy's name that has been used in U.S. records since 1981. Behind the Name doesn't list a specific etymology, but the name has remained in use across multiple decades.

How popular is Nathanuel in 2026?

In 2026, Nathanuel ranks #12,135 among boys' names in the U.S., with 5 babies given the name that year.

When was Nathanuel most popular?

Nathanuel reached its peak popularity in 2008, ranking #5,486 that year with 16 babies given the name.

In which U.S. states is Nathanuel most popular?

Nathanuel has historically been most popular in Texas. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Nathanuel.

Is Nathanuel a unisex name?

In U.S. Social Security records, Nathanuel is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.

What names go well with Nathanuel?

Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Nathanuel include Karron, Damieon, Brenon. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Nathanuel

Nathanuel is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1981 and has accumulated 200 births in the dataset. Nathanuel's peak popularity came in 2008 when it ranked #5,486. Use the chart and map above to compare Nathanuel's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.