Nathaniel

Last seen for girls in 2022 at #13,592 · #140 for boys in 2025, 2,565 births
Given to boys 99.6% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · boys
1998 · 6,427 births
Debut · boys
60 births
In top 100 · boys
38 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · boys
287,103
since 1880

Nathaniel over time

boys

Rank among boys' names. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100rank188019001920194019601980200020201940peak #60, 1998boys
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025—#1402,565
2024—#1442,520
2023—#1432,533
2022#13,5926#1382,706
2021—#1332,834
2020#13,4536#1252,930
2019—#1223,097
2018—#1163,391
2017—#1123,541
2016#14,3316#1033,887
2015—#964,234
2014—#944,317
2013#14,5826#914,538
2012—#844,795
2011#8,61413#844,980
2010#14,9596#815,110
2009#11,4599#755,426
2008#12,5798#775,858
2007#11,6309#826,067
2006#12,4208#696,627
2005#13,0107#676,689
2004#3,98935#686,675
2003#15,7845#636,666
2002#6,69816#626,813
2001#6,32217#616,646
2000#7,15814#616,797
1999#7,71612#626,467
1998#9,2609#606,427
1997#12,0706#655,775
1996#10,5677#695,420
1995#6,64113#735,203
1994#8,12210#785,029
1993#8,7199#754,854
1992#6,65213#794,687
1991#9,3368#844,367
1990#5,28617#864,348
1989#5,54515#844,121
1988#4,01522#814,054
1987#3,03131#784,050
1986#2,62037#784,032
1985#3,41925#774,004
1984#3,23326#803,600
1983#2,85330#793,641
1982#2,70434#743,939
1981#3,25326#803,719
1980#3,06928#863,492
1979#3,14726#953,040
1978#3,51221#942,925
1977#3,36622#1072,500
1976#6,6118#1142,209
1975#2,56530#1311,957
1974#4,72012#1531,609
1973#3,12221#1691,391
1972#4,52312#1921,208
1971#3,94315#2001,210
1970#4,76111#2181,136
1969#3,31817#231991
1968#4,22211#235921
1967#4,30010#226976
1966#3,55813#235903
1965#3,54913#2231,071
1964#5,0088#2361,023
1963#5,8916#2331,026
1962#4,8658#2341,085
1961#4,23910#2441,049
1960#4,7738#2391,146
1959#3,82711#2351,159
1958#3,08515#2351,102
1957#2,82317#2131,262
1956#3,69611#2051,309
1955#3,22513#1951,334
1954#3,49011#2031,228
1953#3,26912#1931,267
1952#3,04013#1881,258
1951#3,10612#1871,247
1950#2,90913#1821,223
1949#3,8928#1791,192
1948#3,13711#1801,159
1947#4,7646#1871,100
1946#3,21710#186977
1945—#181853
1944#3,1399#183864
1943#4,1966#191839
1942#4,6225#188843
1941#4,4205#182829
1940#2,57211#176833
1939#4,2505#183770
1938—#186749
1937#4,2555#186703
1936#3,1038#179738
1935#3,4317#180747
1934#3,1598#174782
1933#3,1098#178728
1932#3,2748#176781
1931#4,3315#199659
1930#3,6587#185754
1929#3,6827#184760
1928#2,62312#193728
1927#3,05310#187769
1926#4,3066#176821
1925#3,11610#178810
1924#3,6658#179800
1923—#193721
1922—#175800
1921—#187748
1920—#166837
1919#3,8177#174748
1918—#193661
1917#4,0836#189640
1916—#193590
1915#4,2745#197554
1914—#185470
1913—#201337
1912—#163356
1911—#161207
1910—#139232
1909—#172143
1908—#159150
1907—#174124
1906—#177101
1905—#167117
1904—#174105
1903—#165105
1902—#18988
1901—#16392
1900—#176118
1899—#18972
1898—#17590
1897—#27243
1896—#20673
1895—#19972
1894—#19277
1893—#22458
1892—#19678
1891—#23746
1890—#17875
1889—#23348
1888—#22163
1887—#20357
1886—#22059
1885—#22054
1884—#22156
1883—#22149
1882—#21757
1881—#22048
1880—#20060
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Nathaniel was already there! It came in at #200, and was given to 60 baby boys.


Quietest stretch: 1897, when fewer than 44 boys a year got the name.

Where Nathaniel is popular in 1940

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 boys named Nathaniel, so not publishedAKMaine: fewer than 5 boys named Nathaniel, so not publishedMEVermont: fewer than 5 boys named Nathaniel, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 boys named Nathaniel, so not publishedNHWashington: fewer than 5 boys named Nathaniel, so not publishedWAIdaho: fewer than 5 boys named Nathaniel, so not publishedIDMontana: fewer than 5 boys named Nathaniel, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Nathaniel, so not publishedNDMinnesota: fewer than 5 boys named Nathaniel, so not publishedMNIllinois: #234 for boys · 20 births · 1 in 2,945 boysILWisconsin: fewer than 5 boys named Nathaniel, so not publishedWIMichigan: #242 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 3,068 boysMINew York: #219 for boys · 32 births · 1 in 2,930 boysNYMassachusetts: #186 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 3,070 boysMARhode Island: fewer than 5 boys named Nathaniel, so not publishedRIOregon: fewer than 5 boys named Nathaniel, so not publishedORNevada: fewer than 5 boys named Nathaniel, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 boys named Nathaniel, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Nathaniel, so not publishedSDIowa: fewer than 5 boys named Nathaniel, so not publishedIAIndiana: #330 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 5,686 boysINOhio: #275 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 4,166 boysOHPennsylvania: #193 for boys · 30 births · 1 in 2,560 boysPANew Jersey: #188 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 2,471 boysNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 boys named Nathaniel, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #397 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 5,856 boysCAUtah: fewer than 5 boys named Nathaniel, so not publishedUTColorado: fewer than 5 boys named Nathaniel, so not publishedCONebraska: fewer than 5 boys named Nathaniel, so not publishedNEMissouri: #224 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 2,086 boysMOKentucky: #251 for boys · 12 births · 1 in 2,380 boysKYWest Virginia: #264 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 2,422 boysWVVirginia: #136 for boys · 31 births · 1 in 789 boysVAMaryland: #120 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 898 boysMDDelaware: fewer than 5 boys named Nathaniel, so not publishedDEArizona: fewer than 5 boys named Nathaniel, so not publishedAZNew Mexico: fewer than 5 boys named Nathaniel, so not publishedNMKansas: fewer than 5 boys named Nathaniel, so not publishedKSArkansas: #112 for boys · 35 births · 1 in 550 boysARTennessee: #159 for boys · 26 births · 1 in 1,074 boysTNNorth Carolina: #106 for boys · 66 births · 1 in 560 boysNCSouth Carolina: #43 for boys · 98 births · 1 in 216 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: #77 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 422 boysDCOklahoma: #306 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 3,044 boysOKLouisiana: #136 for boys · 32 births · 1 in 707 boysLAMississippi: #88 for boys · 46 births · 1 in 474 boysMSAlabama: #75 for boys · 74 births · 1 in 389 boysALGeorgia: #72 for boys · 87 births · 1 in 358 boysGAHawaii: fewer than 5 boys named Nathaniel, so not publishedHITexas: #318 for boys · 27 births · 1 in 2,305 boysTXFlorida: #50 for boys · 70 births · 1 in 221 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. South Carolina#43 · 1 in 216
  2. Florida#50 · 1 in 221
  3. Georgia#72 · 1 in 358
  4. Alabama#75 · 1 in 389
  5. District of Columbia#77 · 1 in 422

Best ever in a state: #26 in Alaska, 2000.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
South Carolina#43981 in 216
Florida#50701 in 221
Georgia#72871 in 358
Alabama#75741 in 389
District of Columbia#77151 in 422
Mississippi#88461 in 474
North Carolina#106661 in 560
Arkansas#112351 in 550
Maryland#120151 in 898
Louisiana#136321 in 707
Virginia#136311 in 789
Tennessee#159261 in 1,074
Massachusetts#186101 in 3,070
New Jersey#188111 in 2,471
Pennsylvania#193301 in 2,560
New York#219321 in 2,930
Missouri#224141 in 2,086
Illinois#234201 in 2,945
Michigan#242151 in 3,068
Kentucky#251121 in 2,380
West Virginia#26481 in 2,422
Ohio#275131 in 4,166
Oklahoma#30671 in 3,044
Texas#318271 in 2,305
Indiana#33051 in 5,686
California#39791 in 5,856
Alaska———
Arizona———
Colorado———
Connecticut———
Delaware———
Hawaii———
Idaho———
Iowa———
Kansas———
Maine———
Minnesota———
Montana———
Nebraska———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
New Mexico———
North Dakota———
Oregon———
Rhode Island———
South Dakota———
Utah———
Vermont———
Washington———
Wisconsin———
Wyoming———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the boys born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Nathaniel
Momentum · boys
Holding steady
  • 4 spots since 2024 (#144 → #140)
  • 15 spots since 2020 (#125 → #140)
  • 44 spots since 2015 (#96 → #140)
  • Biggest jump: 97 spots in 1898 (#272 → #175)
  • Biggest drop: 66 spots in 1897 (#206 → #272)
Rise & fade · boys
118 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1998 at #60 (6,427 births)
  • Births halved by 2019, 21 yrs later
Top of the charts · boys
Top 100 for 38 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: 38 yrs · run 1978–2015
  • Top 1,000: 146 yrs · run 1880–2025
Share of babies · boys
1 in 285
  • Highest: 1 in 285 boys born in 2002 were named Nathaniel (0.35%)
  • Latest: 1 in 666 boys born in 2025 (0.15%)
  • Its best rank, #60 in 1998, was only 1 in 297 (0.34%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
Era · boys
The 2000s
  • 22.4% of all boys named Nathaniel (64,264) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s551#200 (1880)#218
1890s684#175 (1898)#207
1900s1,143#159 (1908)#172
1910s4,795#139 (1910)#180
1920s7,794#166 (1920)#182
1930s7,411#174 (1934)#183
1940s9,489#176 (1940)#183
1950s12,389#182 (1950)#204
1960s10,191#223 (1965)#234
1970s19,185#94 (1978)#147
1980s38,652#74 (1982)#80
1990s52,577#60 (1998)#73
2000s64,264#61 (2000)#69
2010s41,890#81 (2010)#98
2020s16,088#125 (2020)#137

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 boys in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Nathaniel in 1940

girls
#2,572
11 births · 1 in 103,957 girls
boys
#176
833 births · 1 in 1,392 boys

Top girls' names in 1940

  1. #1Mary56,216
  2. #2Barbara36,736
  3. #3Patricia32,665
  4. #4Judith22,385
  5. #5Betty22,077
  6. #6Carol21,759
  7. #7Nancy19,737
  8. #8Linda18,370
  9. #9Shirley17,881
  10. #10Sandra16,153
  11. #2,572Nathaniel11

Top boys' names in 1940

  1. #1James62,481
  2. #2Robert61,198
  3. #3John54,786
  4. #4William44,779
  5. #5Richard37,425
  6. #6Charles31,689
  7. #7David27,690
  8. #8Thomas23,991
  9. #9Donald23,115
  10. #10Ronald20,741
  11. #176Nathaniel833
More about 1940

girls

1,143,528 girls got a published name in 1940; 1 in 103,957 of them was named Nathaniel, which outranked 48.8% of the 5,028 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.1% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Nathaniel
  1. #2,424Wenda12
  2. #2,424Wynelle12
  3. #2,424Wynette12
  4. #2,572Nathaniel11
  5. #2,572Alix11
  6. #2,572Almira11
  7. #2,572Aloha11
  8. #2,737Adah10
  9. #2,737Aggie10
  10. #2,737Albertina10

Tied with 164 names at #2,572; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1939
Risers
  1. ↑ 2,494Scarlett#3,429 → #935
  2. ↑ 1,465Lonna#2,206 → #741
  3. ↑ 834Pam#1,797 → #963
  4. ↑ 659Jody#1,638 → #979
  5. ↑ 633Laraine#1,474 → #841
Fallers
  1. ↓ 481Fredia#996 → #1,477
  2. ↓ 430Eleanora#974 → #1,404
  3. ↓ 375Danielle#811 → #1,186
  4. ↓ 342Eloisa#930 → #1,272
  5. ↓ 298Coral#996 → #1,294

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,159,172 boys got a published name in 1940; 1 in 1,392 of them was named Nathaniel, which outranked 95.5% of the 3,937 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.5% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Nathaniel
  1. #173Lyle864
  2. #174Karl855
  3. #175Bennie845
  4. #176Nathaniel833
  5. #177Luther824
  6. #178Ben814
  7. #178Benny814
Biggest movers since 1939
Risers
  1. ↑ 565Whitney#1,458 → #893
  2. ↑ 447Gonzalo#1,297 → #850
  3. ↑ 419Weston#1,323 → #904
  4. ↑ 368Ashley#1,272 → #904
  5. ↑ 366Agustin#1,238 → #872
Fallers
  1. ↓ 886Montie#916 → #1,802
  2. ↓ 446Verlon#888 → #1,334
  3. ↓ 394Issac#857 → #1,251
  4. ↓ 392Otho#942 → #1,334
  5. ↓ 384Pearl#867 → #1,251

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1940 →