Nathanial: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#3,488

among boys · ↑271 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Nathanial · +10% vs 2024

How common

1 in 51,760

boys born in 2025

Peak year

1999

371 babies

All-time total

10,578

#1,171 all-time among boys

First recorded

1880

in Social Security records

Nathanial popularity over time

10,578 babies have been named Nathanial since 1880, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Boys	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	5	1	–	#1,020
1890s	5	1	0%	#1,178
1900s	22	2	+340%	#929
1910s	134	13	+509%	#1,332
1920s	162	16	+21%	#1,630
1930s	156	16	-4%	#1,510
1940s	113	11	-28%	#1,667
1950s	119	12	+5%	#1,789
1960s	184	18	+55%	#1,552
1970s	927	93	+404%	#624
1980s	1,978	198	+113%	#594
1990s	2,997	300	+52%	#543
2000s	2,821	282	-6%	#585
2010s	778	78	-72%	#1,057
2020s (to 2025)	177	30	-62%	#3,488

Where Nathanial is heading

A five-year projection from the recent trend in births per 1,000 boys (damped so it flattens over time), converted to babies at today's birth totals. The implied rank places that projection in the 2025 field. A projection, not a promise: real trends bend.

Year	Projected babies	Per 1,000 boys	Implied rank
2026	33	0.02	outside top 500
2027	33	0.02	outside top 500
2028	33	0.02	outside top 500
2029	32	0.02	outside top 500
2030	32	0.02	outside top 500

The story of Nathanial

Nathanial is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #3,488 in 2025 with 33 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1880, 10,578 American babies have been named Nathanial. Its peak came in 1999, when 371 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1990s.

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 Nathanial stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Nathanial?

The median living Nathanial is about 29 years old; half are between 21 and 39. An estimated 9,700 people named Nathanial are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Nathanial year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Boys	Boys rank
2025	33	#3,488
2024	30	#3,759
2023	32	#3,604
2022	20	#4,969
2021	32	#3,556
2020	30	#3,626
2019	33	#3,471
2018	35	#3,283
2017	54	#2,409
2016	51	#2,506
2015	50	#2,515
2014	62	#2,197
2013	86	#1,721
2012	96	#1,624
2011	129	#1,325
2010	182	#1,057
2009	193	#1,019
2008	219	#928
2007	264	#808
2006	297	#727
2005	286	#716
2004	295	#683
2003	327	#628
2002	307	#635
2001	292	#640
2000	341	#585
1995	311	#582
1990	242	#650
1985	217	#594
1980	190	#633
1975	90	#877
1970	39	#1,346
1965	22	#1,703
1960	14	#2,281
1955	15	#2,110
1950	18	#1,789
1945	7	#2,916
1940	18	#1,667
1935	17	#1,742
1930	19	#1,738
1925	18	#1,917
1920	17	#2,024
1915	12	#2,259
1910	–	–
1905	6	#1,194
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	5	#1,020

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Nathanial, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Nathanial?

The median living Nathanial is about 29 years old. Half of all living Nathanials are between 21 and 39 years old.

How many people named Nathanial are alive today?

An estimated 9,700 people named Nathanial are alive in the United States, based on 10,578 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Nathanial in 2025?

Nathanial ranked #3,488 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 33 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Nathanial?

10,578 babies have been named Nathanial in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Nathanial most popular?

Nathanial peaked in 1999, when 371 newborns received the name.

Is Nathanial a boy or girl name?

Nathanial is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Nathanial rising or falling?

Nathanial is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Will Nathanial become more popular?

Nathanial looks stable. If the recent trend holds, we project roughly 32 boys named Nathanial in 2030, ranking outside the top 500. Forecasts assume the current trend continues and become less certain further out.

Names like Nathanial

Names that sound and feel close to Nathanial: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Nathanial with similar names → More names starting with N →