Total births
54
Boys' name · since 1956
Nathaiel
Since 1956, U.S. Social Security records show 54 babies named Nathaiel, peaking in 1956. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 54
- total births
- 1956–1985
- years on record
- 1960s
- peak decade
- 30%
- born in that decade
54 boys have been named Nathaiel since 1956, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
Social Security Administration records show Nathaiel recorded 54 times among boys since 1956, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used boys names, peaking in the 1960s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1956 to 1985.
- 54 total births
- 1956–1985 years on record
- 1960s peak decade
- 30% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
54 boys have been named Nathaiel since 1956, peaking in the 1960s, last recorded in 1985.
- 54
- total births
- 1956–1985
- years on record
- 1960s
- peak decade
- 30%
- born in that decade
1960s
Peak decade
30% of everyone ever named Nathaiel was born in this single decade.
1956
Single peak year
6 babies were named Nathaiel in 1956 - its busiest year on record.
Nathaiel's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Splitting Nathaiel's full recorded timeline at 1978, 50% of its total births fall in the more recent half of the record versus 50% in the earlier half -- a fairly even split across the full record. Its quietest year on record was 1960, with just 5 recorded births -- worth weighing against the 1956 peak of 6 to see the full range of the name's swing in popularity.
Nathaiel at a glance
Last recorded 1985Peak year
1956
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1956
Nathaiel popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1956–1985
- Peak year (1956)
- 6
- Annual births at peak, across 30 years of records
Nathaiel by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1960s was Nathaiel's strongest decade.
16 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 30% of all-time use.
Nathaiel births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1950s 6
1950s
6 births
- 1960s
1960s
16 births
- 1970s
1970s
16 births
- 1980s
1980s
16 births
What this shows Peak: 1960s at 16 births (30% of all-time use).
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Nathaiel? ▼
Nathaiel has been given to 54 babies in the U.S. since 1956, according to SSA data. Its last appearance in the data was 1985. 6 babies were born in 1956, its single highest year.
When was Nathaiel most popular? ▼
Nathaiel was most popular in the 1960s decade with 16 total births. The single peak year was 1956.
How long has the name Nathaiel been used? ▼
Records for Nathaiel go back to 1956, giving 30 years of history through 1985.
What names are similar to Nathaiel? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Nathan, Nathaniel, Nathanael, Nathanial, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Nathaiel's data
- Nathaiel's usage has stayed within range of its 1960s decade-level peak (16 total births) through the 1980s (16) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Nathaiel
Nearby Names Like Nathaiel
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Nathaiel
Nathan Boy
#62 587,497 births
Nathaniel Boy
#144 287,103 births
Nathanael Boy
#674 22,227 births
Nathanial Boy
#3694 10,578 births
Nathen Boy
#5255 6,146 births
Compare Nathaiel side by side: Nathaiel vs Nathan Nathaiel vs Nathaniel Nathaiel vs Nathanael
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of July 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1956–1985 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Nathaiel: Baby Name Since 1956 - 54 Births, Peak 1956." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/nathaiel. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Nathaiel draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of July 2026.