Home › Baby Names Directory › Danielle

Danielle

♀ Girl

Pronounced dan-YEL /dæˈnjɛl/High

Meaning: French feminine form of Daniel, from Hebrew Daniyyel meaning 'God is my judge,' a compound of din ('to judge') and El ('God'); the name of the Old Testament prophet DanielHigh

In 30 seconds: Danielle is the elegant French feminine of Daniel, meaning 'God is my judge.' A 1980s powerhouse that remains a recognizable, confident classic with strong biblical roots.
💕 Browse more names
Origin HighHebrew, French
MeaningFrench feminine form of Daniel, from Hebrew Daniyyel meaning 'God is my judge,' a compound of din ('to judge') and El ('God'); the name of the Old Testament prophet Daniel
U.S. rank (2025)#549 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births550 girls (0.03% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1987
Total births (all-time)≈ 371,789

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 198719372025

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

History & Origin

Danielle is the French feminine form of Daniel, from Hebrew Daniyyel meaning 'God is my judge.' The masculine Daniel was a major prophet in the Hebrew Bible, famed for surviving the lions' den through divine protection. The French feminine Danielle developed in medieval Europe and spread throughout the French-speaking world and beyond.

Danielle was enormously popular in the United States from the 1970s through the 1990s, reaching the top 15 at its peak. It has declined from those heights but remains in the top 300 and is considered a confident, recognizable classic. The variant spelling Daniella is also common. Author Danielle Steel and actress Danielle Fishel have been among its prominent modern bearers.

Did you know? The Book of Daniel contains some of the most dramatic narratives in the Hebrew Bible — Daniel in the lions' den, the writing on the wall, and Nebuchadnezzar's fiery furnace — giving Danielle a heritage of extraordinary courage and divine protection.
Overall data confidence 96%
Behind the Name — Danielle — etymology and historyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

DaniellaDaniDaniele

Nicknames

DaniElleDanni

Famous Bearers

  • ★Danielle Steel (1947–present)
    American author, the best-selling living novelist in the world with over 800 million books sold.

If you like Danielle…

Michelle— shares the French two-syllable structure with Hebrew origin and the same 1980s peak
Rochelle— French feminine name with the same -elle ending and the same refined classic feel
Isabelle— French two-syllable -belle name with the same biblical heritage and vintage glamour
Gabrielle— French feminine Hebrew-origin name with the same -elle ending and parallel cadence

Frequently Asked

What does the name Danielle mean?

Danielle is the French feminine of Daniel, from Hebrew Daniyyel meaning 'God is my judge' — the same meaning carried by the Old Testament prophet Daniel.

How do you pronounce Danielle?

It is said dan-YEL — two syllables, stress on the second.

Is Danielle a boy or girl name?

Danielle is used almost exclusively as a girls' name. The masculine form is Daniel.

How popular is Danielle?

Danielle peaked in the U.S. top 15 in the 1980s–90s and now ranks in the top 300, remaining a confident and recognizable classic.