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Home › Baby Names Directory › Othniel

Othniel

♂ Boy

Pronounced OTH-nee-el /ˈɑθ.ni.ɛl/High

Meaning: From Hebrew Otniel — read 'lion of God' or 'God is my strength' — Israel's first judgeMedium

In 30 seconds: Israel's first judge: Othniel — 'lion of God' — won a city and a bride in one campaign, then forty years of peace. Deep-cut Scripture with claws.
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Origin MediumHebrew
MeaningFrom Hebrew Otniel — read 'lion of God' or 'God is my strength' — Israel's first judge
U.S. rank (2025)#2746 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births47 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2018
Total births (all-time)≈ 715

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201819242025

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

Othniel comes from Hebrew Otniel — read 'lion of God' or 'God is my strength/force' (the parsing is debated, which we note) — Caleb's nephew and Israel's first judge. Paleontologist Othniel Marsh dug it into science history.

It registers thinly in records. Rare, lion-of-God at the root, and pioneering.

Did you know? Othniel captured Kiriath-sepher to win Achsah's hand, then judged Israel into forty years' rest — the Bible's original overachiever-in-law.
Overall data confidence 72%
Behind the Name — Othniel — parsing debated

Variations

OtnielOthonielOtoniel

Nicknames

OthNiel

Famous Bearers

  • ★Othniel Charles Marsh (1831–1899)
    American paleontologist of the Bone Wars.

If you like Othniel…

Ariel— the fellow 'lion of God' name
Daniel— the companion judge-of-God classic
Ezekiel— another mighty -el prophet pick
Gamaliel— a sister deep-cut -el name

Explore names like Othniel

By themeuncertainhebrewbiblical
By meaningGod / DivineStrengthLion

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Othniel mean?

Othniel is Hebrew, read 'lion of God' or 'God is my strength'; the parsing is debated.

How do you pronounce Othniel?

It's said OTH-nee-el /ˈɑθ.ni.ɛl/ — three syllables, stress on the first.

Is Othniel a boy or girl name?

Othniel is a boy's name.

How popular is Othniel?

Othniel is a rare name in the U.S.

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