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.
- #5,549 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- #10,804 of 13,930
- 2025 SSA year
- 885
- born since 1917
- 2000s
- peak decade
Yes -- Nathanel is the #10804 most popular boys' name in the U.S. today, with 885 recorded since 1917.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Nathanel has been recorded 885 times among boys since 1917, currently ranked #10804 nationally and more common than 22% of boys, 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.
- #5,549 of 45,481 all-time among boys
- #10,804 of 13,930 2025 SSA year
- 885 born since 1917
- 2000s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Nathanel ranks #5,549 of 45,481 boys' names by all-time recorded births (highest first) and #10,804 of 13,930 among boys' names in 2025. 885 born since 1917, peaking in the 2000s.
- #5,549 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- #10,804 of 13,930
- 2025 SSA year
- 885
- born since 1917
- 2000s
- peak decade
Nathanel's 885 recorded births place it above 87.79% of the 45,481 boys names in the full SSA archive.
The state file records this name in 3 jurisdictions, led by California.
How Nathanel compares
885 Top 34% higher than 66% of 13,930 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Nathanel's all-time total is 140% above the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Nathanel | Median boys name (Takari) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 885 | 369 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 39 | 34 | 22,252 |
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 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
2000s is the heaviest window (241 births, 27% of the file).
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 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% |
25 of 885 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 3 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Nathanel? ▼
Where does Nathanel sit in the SSA name archive? ▼
When was Nathanel most popular? ▼
Where is Nathanel most popular? ▼
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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
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
Compare Nathanel side by side: Nathanel vs Nathan Nathanel vs Nathaniel Nathanel vs Nathanael
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Nathanel
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Nathanel: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~2002)
Similar record span (~108 yrs)
Peak year is the single SSA year with the most births for that name; record span is first-to-latest year in the national files, not a recommendation or shared origin claim.
Data Sources
Data as of August 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).
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 August 2026.