Daniel is a popular given name of Hebrew origin that means "God is my judge." It is derived from the Hebrew name Daniyel, which consists of two elements: "dan," meaning "judge," and "El," meaning "God." Therefore, Daniel can be translated as "God is my judge" or "God judges."
The name Daniel appears in the Bible, specifically in the Book of Daniel. In this story, Daniel is a young Jewish man who is taken into captivity by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II. Despite his circumstances, Daniel remains faithful to his beliefs and refuses to compromise his principles. He becomes known for his wisdom and interpreting dreams and visions.
The name Daniel gained popularity in Europe during the Middle Ages due to the spread of biblical stories and saints' lives. It was also a favored choice among royalty, with several kings and nobles throughout history bearing the name Daniel.
In some cultures, Daniel is considered to bring good fortune or protection from evil spirits. In others, it is associated with wisdom, intelligence, and courage, reflecting the qualities exhibited by the biblical figure of Daniel.
Today, Daniel remains a popular given name for boys around the world. It has also inspired various derivatives, such asDanny (informal diminutive), Danielle (feminine form), Daniella, Danika, and others. Some famous people named Daniel include American actor Daniel Day-Lewis, French philosopher Daniel Dennett, and Swiss tennis player Roger Federer, whose full name is Roger Federer Jr., but he is commonly known by his middle name, Daniel.
Based on the provided statistics, we can observe trends and patterns related to the popularity of the name Daniel over time in the United States.
From the years 1900 to 1940, the number of births with the name Daniel fluctuated between a low of 7 births in 1900 and a high of 36 births in 1947. The average number of births per year during this period was approximately 25 births.
Starting from 1948, there is a noticeable increase in the popularity of the name Daniel. Between 1948 and 1959, the annual births with the name Daniel ranged from 33 to 78, with an average of around 50 births per year during this period.
The peak popularity for the name Daniel occurred between 1962 and 1976. During these years, the number of annual births with the name Daniel reached its highest point at 193 births in 1977, with an average of approximately 140 births per year during this period.
After 1977, the popularity of the name Daniel began to decline. Between 1978 and 2022, the annual births with the name Daniel ranged from a low of 11 births in 2022 to a high of 255 births in 1982, with an average of around 130 births per year during this period.
In conclusion, while the name Daniel experienced periods of varying popularity over time in the United States, it has remained a consistently chosen name throughout history. The peak popularity occurred between 1962 and 1976, with a significant decline noticeable after 1977. However, even today, parents continue to choose the name Daniel for their children, as evidenced by an average of approximately 15 births per year from 2013 to 2022.