Total births
885
Boys' name · since 1917
Nathanel
Since 1917, U.S. Social Security records show 885 babies named Nathanel, peaking in 2002. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 885
- total births
- 1917–2025
- years on record
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 27%
- born in that decade
Nathanel is not among the current top-ranked boys names; 885 have been recorded since 1917.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Nathanel has been recorded 885 times among boys since 1917, though it is not among the currently most-used boys names, with its heaviest use in the 2000s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1917 to 2025.
- 885 total births
- 1917–2025 years on record
- 2000s peak decade
- 27% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
885 boys have been named Nathanel since 1917, peaking in the 2000s, last recorded in 2025.
- 885
- total births
- 1917–2025
- years on record
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 27%
- born in that decade
2000s
Peak decade
27% of everyone ever named Nathanel was born in this single decade.
2002
Single peak year
39 babies were named Nathanel in 2002 - its busiest year on record.
Nathanel's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Nathanel's SSA record in two at 1986 and the more recent half accounts for 64% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 36%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1926, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 2002 peak of 39, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Nathanel at a glance
Last recorded 2025Peak year
2002
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1917
Nathanel popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1917–2025
- Peak year (2002)
- 39
- Annual births at peak, across 109 years of records
Nathanel by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2000s was Nathanel's strongest decade.
241 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 27% of all-time use.
Nathanel births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1910s 12
1910s
12 births
- 1920s 91
1920s
91 births
- 1930s 64
1930s
64 births
- 1940s 21
1940s
21 births
- 1950s 16
1950s
16 births
- 1960s 6
1960s
6 births
- 1970s 47
1970s
47 births
- 1980s
1980s
116 births
- 1990s
1990s
150 births
- 2000s
2000s
241 births
- 2010s
2010s
104 births
- 2020s 17
2020s
17 births
What this shows Peak: 2000s at 241 births (27% of all-time use).
How Nathanel compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Nathanel's total volume
Nathanel vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Nathanel by state
Where Nathanel concentrates geographically, total births since 1917
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 25 | 2.8% |
| #2 | New York | | 10 | 1.1% |
| #3 | Texas | | 6 | 0.7% |
California share of Nathanel's total US births 2.8%
Even split
25 of 885 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 3 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Nathanel? ▼
Nathanel has been given to 885 babies in the U.S. since 1917, according to SSA data. Its last appearance in the data was 2025. 39 babies were born in 2002, its single highest year.
When was Nathanel most popular? ▼
Nathanel was most popular in the 2000s decade with 241 total births. The single peak year was 2002.
Where is Nathanel most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Nathanel are California (25 births), New York (10 births), Texas (6 births).
How long has the name Nathanel been used? ▼
Records for Nathanel go back to 1917, giving 109 years of history through 2025.
What names are similar to Nathanel? ▼
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 Nathanel's data
- Nathanel's decade-level peak was the 2000s (241 total births); usage has since declined to 17 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Nathanels (25 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
- 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 Nathanel
Nearby Names Like Nathanel
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Nathanel
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 Nathanel side by side: Nathanel vs Nathan Nathanel vs Nathaniel Nathanel vs Nathanael
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of June 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, 1917–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Nathanel: Baby Name Since 1917 - 885 Births, Peak 2002." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/nathanel. 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 Nathanel 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 June 2026.