Nat
A unisex given name. A diminutive of the male given name Nathanael, Nathaniel, Nathan.
Every Nat since 1880 — 2,162 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Nat
Nat is not currently in use for newborns in the United States — fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.
Since 1880, 2,162 American babies have been named Nat. Its peak came in 1915, when 61 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1910s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Nat stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Nat year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — |
| 2024 | — | — |
| 2023 | 5 | #13,562 |
| 2022 | — | — |
| 2021 | — | — |
| 2020 | — | — |
| 2019 | — | — |
| 2018 | — | — |
| 2017 | — | — |
| 2016 | — | — |
| 2015 | — | — |
| 2014 | — | — |
| 2013 | — | — |
| 2012 | — | — |
| 2011 | — | — |
| 2010 | — | — |
| 2009 | — | — |
| 2008 | — | — |
| 2007 | — | — |
| 2006 | — | — |
| 2005 | — | — |
| 2004 | — | — |
| 2003 | — | — |
| 2002 | 5 | #11,911 |
| 2001 | — | — |
| 2000 | — | — |
| 1995 | — | — |
| 1990 | — | — |
| 1985 | — | — |
| 1980 | 6 | #6,012 |
| 1975 | — | — |
| 1970 | 17 | #2,263 |
| 1965 | 17 | #1,974 |
| 1960 | 30 | #1,474 |
| 1955 | 22 | #1,669 |
| 1950 | 18 | #1,788 |
| 1945 | 17 | #1,679 |
| 1940 | 21 | #1,508 |
| 1935 | 21 | #1,524 |
| 1930 | 31 | #1,295 |
| 1925 | 29 | #1,384 |
| 1920 | 43 | #1,083 |
| 1915 | 61 | #769 |
| 1910 | 20 | #669 |
| 1905 | 6 | #1,193 |
| 1900 | 18 | #595 |
| 1895 | 11 | #663 |
| 1890 | 14 | #527 |
| 1885 | 15 | #494 |
| 1880 | 14 | #495 |
Famous people named Nat
- Nat King Cole Musician · 1919–1965
- Nat Lofthouse Soccer player · 1925–2011
- Nat Adderley Musician · 1931–2000
- Nat Hentoff Writer · 1925–2017
- Nat Pendleton Actor · 1895–1967
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Nat mean?
A unisex given name. A diminutive of the male given name Nathanael, Nathaniel, Nathan.
How popular is the name Nat in 2025?
Nat did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.
How many people are named Nat?
2,162 babies have been named Nat in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Nat most popular?
Nat peaked in 1915, when 61 newborns received the name.
Is Nat a boy or girl name?
Nat is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Nat rising or falling?
Nat is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Nat?
Well-known people named Nat include Nat King Cole (musician), Nat Lofthouse (soccer player), Nat Adderley (musician).