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Daniel

♂ Boy

Pronounced DAN-yul /ˈdæn.jəl/High

Meaning: God is my judge; judged by GodHigh

In 30 seconds: From the Hebrew 'God is my judge,' Daniel is the name of the prophet who survived the lions' den. A perennial top-10 choice, it has never left the U.S. top 15 boys' names.
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Origin HighHebrew
MeaningGod is my judge; judged by God
Peak year1985
Total births (all-time)≈ 1,907,357

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 198518802017

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Daniel comes from the Hebrew Daniyel (דָּנִיֵּאל), composed of dan (to judge) and El (God), meaning 'God is my judge.' The prophet Daniel was renowned for his wisdom and interpretive gifts, serving in the courts of Babylonian and Persian kings.

The name entered Christian use through the Old Testament prophet and spread throughout the medieval Christian world. It has been consistently popular in the United States, ranking in the top 10 for much of the 20th and 21st centuries. Daniel Boone (1734–1820) gave it frontier-era American associations.

Did you know? The Book of Daniel contains some of the most vivid stories in the Hebrew Bible — including Daniel in the lions' den and his three friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego surviving a fiery furnace, which have inspired art, music, and literature for millennia.

Variations

DaniyelDanyelDaniloDaniil

Nicknames

DanDannyDani

Famous Bearers

  • ★Daniel Boone (1734–1820)
    American frontiersman and explorer, pioneer of the settlement of Kentucky.
  • ★Daniel Craig (1968–)
    British actor, the sixth James Bond.
  • ★Daniel Radcliffe (1989–)
    British actor, known for playing Harry Potter in the film series.

If you like Daniel…

Michael— shares the decades of top-10 dominance in the U.S.
Samuel— equally steady biblical classic in the top ranks
Matthew— another apostle-era name with the same sustained popularity
David— fellow Hebrew classic with unbroken American chart presence
James— shares the timeless, presidential English classic feel

Frequently Asked

What does the name Daniel mean?

Daniel comes from the Hebrew Daniyel, meaning 'God is my judge,' borne by the prophet renowned for wisdom and his survival in the lions' den.

How do you pronounce Daniel?

Daniel is said DAN-yul /ˈdæn.jəl/ — three syllables, though commonly reduced to two in speech, with stress on the first.

Is Daniel a boy or girl name?

Daniel is primarily a boy's name; the feminine equivalents are Daniela and Danielle.

How popular is Daniel?

Daniel has never left the U.S. top 15 boys' names since SSA records began, making it one of the most consistently popular names in American history.