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Daniel
Pronounced DAN-yul /ˈdæn.jəl/High
Meaning: From the Hebrew Daniyyel, 'God is my judge' (dan, 'judge', + el, 'God'); a classic name that is overwhelmingly male; here listed as a girl's; we note the leanLow
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Daniel comes from the Hebrew Daniyyel, 'God is my judge' (dan, 'judge', + el, 'God'); it is a classic, overwhelmingly male name (here listed as a girl's; we note the lean). A warm name (said 'DAN-yul').
In the U.S. it appears very rarely as a girl's name; it is overwhelmingly a boy's name. Rare here, God-is-my-judge at the root, and classic.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Daniel mean?
Daniel is Hebrew for 'God is my judge' (dan, 'judge', + el, 'God'); a classic, overwhelmingly male name.
How do you pronounce Daniel?
It's said DAN-yul /ˈdæn.jəl/ — two syllables, stress on the first.
Is Daniel a boy or girl name?
Daniel is listed here as a girl's name, though it is overwhelmingly a boy's name (the feminine is usually Daniela/Danielle).
How popular is Daniel?
Daniel is very rare as a girl's name in the U.S.