The first name McDaniel is of American origin, derived from the Scottish surname 'McDonald'. It was originally an occupational name for a pipe maker or player, stemming from the Middle Irish word 'dabull', meaning 'little bag' or 'pipeman'. The name gained popularity in the United States during the 19th century, with many immigrants bringing it across from Scotland and Ireland.
The name McDaniel experienced varied popularity over the years with peaks in certain decades and fluctuations within them. The late 1920s saw consistent popularity with five births each year from 1922 to 1924. There was a gap of about fifteen years before births increased again, with five births in 1939 and continuing in waves throughout the 1940s and 1950s. The 1960s showed another peak with eight births in 1964. After a significant drop in the late 1980s to mid-1990s, the name maintained some consistency with five or six births per year until it declined again by 1997. Overall, there were 86 McDaniel births recorded over these years.