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#100rank188019001920194019601980200020201961peak #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 1961

  • 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: #359 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 5,131 boysWAIdaho: 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: #258 for boys · 43 births · 1 in 2,649 boysILWisconsin: fewer than 5 boys named Nathaniel, so not publishedWIMichigan: #237 for boys · 37 births · 1 in 2,519 boysMINew York: #217 for boys · 96 births · 1 in 1,870 boysNYMassachusetts: #246 for boys · 12 births · 1 in 4,781 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: #297 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 3,613 boysINOhio: #274 for boys · 33 births · 1 in 3,381 boysOHPennsylvania: #200 for boys · 56 births · 1 in 2,109 boysPANew Jersey: #202 for boys · 34 births · 1 in 1,856 boysNJConnecticut: #265 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 3,798 boysCTCalifornia: #391 for boys · 41 births · 1 in 4,610 boysCAUtah: fewer than 5 boys named Nathaniel, so not publishedUTColorado: #352 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 3,664 boysCONebraska: fewer than 5 boys named Nathaniel, so not publishedNEMissouri: #278 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 3,025 boysMOKentucky: #302 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 3,449 boysKYWest Virginia: fewer than 5 boys named Nathaniel, so not publishedWVVirginia: #170 for boys · 41 births · 1 in 1,056 boysVAMaryland: #140 for boys · 40 births · 1 in 821 boysMDDelaware: #151 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 1,044 boysDEArizona: #320 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 2,421 boysAZNew Mexico: fewer than 5 boys named Nathaniel, so not publishedNMKansas: fewer than 5 boys named Nathaniel, so not publishedKSArkansas: #185 for boys · 18 births · 1 in 1,087 boysARTennessee: #244 for boys · 19 births · 1 in 2,075 boysTNNorth Carolina: #186 for boys · 45 births · 1 in 1,174 boysNCSouth Carolina: #92 for boys · 73 births · 1 in 389 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: #111 for boys · 25 births · 1 in 594 boysDCOklahoma: #347 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 3,923 boysOKLouisiana: #172 for boys · 49 births · 1 in 842 boysLAMississippi: #122 for boys · 48 births · 1 in 563 boysMSAlabama: #147 for boys · 50 births · 1 in 749 boysALGeorgia: #138 for boys · 68 births · 1 in 703 boysGAHawaii: fewer than 5 boys named Nathaniel, so not publishedHITexas: #317 for boys · 54 births · 1 in 2,215 boysTXFlorida: #156 for boys · 61 births · 1 in 901 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. South Carolina#92 · 1 in 389
  2. District of Columbia#111 · 1 in 594
  3. Mississippi#122 · 1 in 563
  4. Georgia#138 · 1 in 703
  5. Maryland#140 · 1 in 821

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
South Carolina#92731 in 389
District of Columbia#111251 in 594
Mississippi#122481 in 563
Georgia#138681 in 703
Maryland#140401 in 821
Alabama#147501 in 749
Delaware#15151 in 1,044
Florida#156611 in 901
Virginia#170411 in 1,056
Louisiana#172491 in 842
Arkansas#185181 in 1,087
North Carolina#186451 in 1,174
Pennsylvania#200561 in 2,109
New Jersey#202341 in 1,856
New York#217961 in 1,870
Michigan#237371 in 2,519
Tennessee#244191 in 2,075
Massachusetts#246121 in 4,781
Illinois#258431 in 2,649
Connecticut#26571 in 3,798
Ohio#274331 in 3,381
Missouri#278161 in 3,025
Indiana#297151 in 3,613
Kentucky#302101 in 3,449
Texas#317541 in 2,215
Arizona#32071 in 2,421
Oklahoma#34761 in 3,923
Colorado#35261 in 3,664
Washington#35961 in 5,131
California#391411 in 4,610
Alaska———
Hawaii———
Idaho———
Iowa———
Kansas———
Maine———
Minnesota———
Montana———
Nebraska———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
New Mexico———
North Dakota———
Oregon———
Rhode Island———
South Dakota———
Utah———
Vermont———
West Virginia———
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 1961

girls
#4,239
10 births · 1 in 201,850 girls
boys
#244
1,049 births · 1 in 2,025 boys

Top girls' names in 1961

  1. #1Mary47,682
  2. #2Lisa42,720
  3. #3Susan37,532
  4. #4Linda35,597
  5. #5Karen34,707
  6. #6Patricia28,889
  7. #7Donna28,679
  8. #8Cynthia24,393
  9. #9Sandra24,153
  10. #10Deborah24,107
  11. #4,239Nathaniel10

Top boys' names in 1961

  1. #1Michael86,974
  2. #2David84,810
  3. #3John79,983
  4. #4James75,969
  5. #5Robert72,977
  6. #6Mark57,796
  7. #7William48,045
  8. #8Richard41,142
  9. #9Thomas37,565
  10. #10Steven32,275
  11. #244Nathaniel1,049
More about 1961

girls

2,018,495 girls got a published name in 1961; 1 in 201,850 of them was named Nathaniel, which outranked 43.7% of the 7,527 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 16.3% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Nathaniel
  1. #4,009Yetta11
  2. #4,009Zetta11
  3. #4,009Zoeann11
  4. #4,239Nathaniel10
  5. #4,239Aaron10
  6. #4,239Adora10
  7. #4,239Alanda10
  8. #4,546Aggie9
  9. #4,546Ailene9
  10. #4,546Albina9

Tied with 306 names at #4,239; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1960
Risers
  1. ↑ 997Corinna#1,811 → #814
  2. ↑ 789Sabra#1,637 → #848
  3. ↑ 745Velvet#1,286 → #541
  4. ↑ 601Johnna#1,043 → #442
  5. ↑ 600Damita#1,597 → #997
Fallers
  1. ↓ 317Sheena#980 → #1,297
  2. ↓ 253Lita#909 → #1,162
  3. ↓ 241Jannette#970 → #1,211
  4. ↓ 229Francisca#939 → #1,168
  5. ↓ 214Andra#822 → #1,036

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

boys

2,124,195 boys got a published name in 1961; 1 in 2,025 of them was named Nathaniel, which outranked 94.8% of the 4,657 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 29.1% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Nathaniel
  1. #241Randolph1,069
  2. #242Jason1,058
  3. #243Johnnie1,054
  4. #244Nathaniel1,049
  5. #245Oscar1,042
  6. #246Ross1,024
  7. #247Herman1,010
Biggest movers since 1960
Risers
  1. ↑ 3,171Parrish#4,038 → #867
  2. ↑ 589Brook#1,252 → #663
  3. ↑ 467Osvaldo#1,434 → #967
  4. ↑ 426Shayne#1,152 → #726
  5. ↑ 367Pernell#1,295 → #928
Fallers
  1. ↓ 425Wayde#672 → #1,097
  2. ↓ 380Yancy#923 → #1,303
  3. ↓ 301Jonas#905 → #1,206
  4. ↓ 264Tobin#833 → #1,097
  5. ↓ 253Keenan#748 → #1,001

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

See the top 100 for 1961 →