Nathaniel is a name of Hebrew origin that means "gift of God." It is derived from the Hebrew elements "natan" meaning "to give" and "el" meaning "God." The name Nathaniel was popularized by the New Testament figure of Nathanael, also known as Bartholomew, one of Jesus Christ's twelve apostles. According to the Gospel of John, Nathanael is described as an Israelite without guile, and when he meets Jesus for the first time, Jesus refers to him as a true Israelite in whom there is no deceit. The name Nathaniel has been used throughout history by several notable figures, including Nathaniel Hawthorne, the American author known for his dark romantic tales, and Nathaniel Fick, the former United States Marine Corps officer who wrote the best-selling memoir "One Bullet Away." The name Nathaniel has also appeared in various works of literature and popular culture, such as the Shakespeare play "The Merchant of Venice" and the video game "Final Fantasy VII." Overall, Nathaniel is a strong and meaningful name with a rich history that dates back to biblical times.
The given statistics show the number of births with the name Nathaniel in the United States from 1956 to 1985. The data indicates that the name's popularity fluctuated over this period, with five or six births per year being the norm.
In 1956 and 1960-1961, there were six births each year. Then, from 1975 to 1985, there were consistently five births per year, except for an increase to six in 1979 and 1983.
Overall, the total number of births with the name Nathaniel in the United States during this period was 49.