Nathaniel, derived from the Hebrew name 'Nataniel,' meaning 'gift of God,' has been a prominent name throughout history. It was quite popular among early Christians due to its biblical association with Nathaniel, a disciple of Jesus in the Gospel of John. The name gained significant traction during the Middle Ages and continued to be used into the modern era, although it's less common today compared to some other names like Nathan or Nathaniel's more traditional variant, Nathanial.
The name Nathaniel experienced a significant increase in popularity during the mid-20th century, with over 30 births per year consistently recorded between 1973 and 1986, peaking at 37 births in 1986. However, its popularity has since declined, with fewer than 15 births per year recorded in recent years, including six births each in 2016, 2020, and 2022. In total, there have been 1161 births of the name Nathaniel between 1915 and 2022.