Daniel Name Meaning

From the ancient Hebrew Daniyyel, Daniel means “God is my judge.” A prophet in the Bible with his own book in the Old Testament, Daniel is a deeply religious name whose use spans millennia.

Daniel has held firm in popularity throughout the years, standing tall alongside his Biblical brothers Michael and Matthew. Despite it all, he remains surprisingly fresh, never quite falling into the murky waters of dad name territory. He’s steadfast and strong, portraying strength and power while remaining friendly, thanks in part to his easy going nicknames Dan and Danny.

In the Bible, Daniel is thrown into a literal lions’ den for worshipping God instead of the king, surviving the ordeal thanks to the help of an angel. Despite being faced with certain death, Daniel holds true in his faith and is rewarded with life because of it. This story of strength in faith inspires many parents to hold the name dear and it’s often used as a middle name in the U.S. as well as a first name.

Daniel has a spunky variant in Danilo, a name used in several countries such as Portugal, Spain, and Croatia. Daniel also has several female variations including Dana, Daniella, and Daniela.

Infographic of Daniel name meaning, which is From the Hebrew Daniyyel, Daniel means God is my judge.
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Daniel Name Popularity

How popular is the name Daniel? Here’s everything we know.

Year Rank # Births % Births
1910 — 658 0.1869%
1911 — 765 0.2054%
1912 — 1,500 0.2974%
1913 — 1,867 0.3293%
1914 — 2,312 0.3318%
1915 — 3,000 0.3302%
1916 — 3,139 0.325%
1917 — 3,357 0.3356%
1918 — 3,725 0.3471%
1919 — 3,517 0.3359%
1920 — 3,890 0.3499%
1921 — 4,083 0.3566%
1922 — 4,278 0.384%
1923 — 4,261 0.3804%
1924 — 4,391 0.3781%
1925 — 4,548 0.4024%
1926 — 4,504 0.4095%
1927 — 4,613 0.4167%
1928 — 4,433 0.4143%
1929 — 4,364 0.4213%
1930 — 4,462 0.4272%
1931 — 4,356 0.4413%
1932 — 4,445 0.4499%
1933 — 4,305 0.4621%
1934 — 4,493 0.4648%
1935 — 4,588 0.4721%
1936 — 4,811 0.4994%
1937 — 5,119 0.5195%
1938 — 5,578 0.5449%
1939 — 5,797 0.5699%
1940 — 6,216 0.5848%
1941 — 7,049 0.6263%
1942 — 8,506 0.6736%
1943 — 9,165 0.702%
1944 — 9,311 0.7513%
1945 — 9,704 0.7957%
1946 — 12,867 0.872%
1947 — 15,188 0.9099%
1948 — 16,508 1.0341%
1949 — 18,233 1.1334%
1950 — 19,193 1.192%
1951 — 21,125 1.2459%
1952 — 23,426 1.342%
1953 — 23,490 1.3273%
1954 — 25,263 1.382%
1955 — 26,442 1.4375%
1956 — 26,623 1.4096%
1957 — 27,305 1.419%
1958 — 25,612 1.3552%
1959 — 25,134 1.3229%
1960 — 25,962 1.3702%
1961 — 25,880 1.3708%
1962 — 25,546 1.3915%
1963 — 24,824 1.3829%
1964 — 24,353 1.3835%
1965 — 24,847 1.5194%
1966 — 23,270 1.4904%
1967 — 22,208 1.4634%
1968 — 22,018 1.4663%
1969 — 23,184 1.5049%
1970 — 23,528 1.4784%
1971 — 21,789 1.45%
1972 — 22,110 1.6233%
1973 — 23,697 1.8279%
1974 — 23,842 1.8344%
1975 — 23,823 1.8539%
1976 — 24,718 1.9179%
1977 — 26,076 1.9345%
1978 — 26,446 1.967%
1979 — 28,528 2.0232%
1980 — 29,895 2.0446%
1981 — 30,994 2.1085%
1982 — 32,653 2.1851%
1983 — 34,746 2.3546%
1984 — 36,525 2.4553%
1985 — 38,541 2.5392%
1986 — 36,571 2.4228%
1987 — 35,861 2.35%
1988 — 34,694 2.2263%
1989 — 34,998 2.1688%
1990 — 33,815 2.0402%
1991 — 30,919 1.8969%
1992 — 29,146 1.826%
1993 — 28,682 1.8397%
1994 — 28,059 1.8284%
1995 — 26,719 1.7728%
1996 — 25,111 1.6771%
1997 — 23,934 1.6182%
1998 — 23,153 1.5469%
1999 — 22,689 1.5151%
2000 — 22,312 1.4606%
2001 — 20,984 1.3927%
2002 — 21,315 1.4224%
2003 — 21,038 1.3829%
2004 — 20,979 1.3764%
2005 — 20,208 1.3217%
2006 — 20,059 1.2811%
2007 — 20,250 1.2835%
2008 — 19,001 1.2294%
2009 — 17,538 1.1734%
2010 — 15,836 1.0989%
2011 — 15,279 1.0724%
2012 — 14,271 1.0015%
2013 — 14,290 1.0037%
2014 — 13,931 0.9562%
2015 — 13,490 0.9271%
2016 — 12,921 0.8962%
2017 — 11,640 0.834%
2018 — 11,173 0.8132%
2019 — 10,504 0.7759%
2020 — 9,320 0.7322%
2021 — 9,066 0.7416%
2022 — 8,913 0.6756%
2023 — 8,391 0.6483%

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Data via SSA.gov.


Names Like Daniel

If you like Daniel, you’ll love these other names like Daniel.


What names are diminutives of Daniel?

A diminutive is a name that’s like Daniel sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Daniel, but shorter.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Dan

Judge; God is my judge

Hebrew

Dana

From Denmark

English

Dani

God is my judge

Hebrew

Dannie

God is my judge

Hebrew

Danny

God is my judge

Hebrew


What names are variants of Daniel?

Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Daniel.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Danal

God is my judge

Hebrew

Daneal

God is my judge

Hebrew

Danek

God is my judge

Hebrew

Danell

God is my judge

Hebrew

Danial

God is my judge

Hebrew

Daniele

God is my judge

Hebrew

Danil

God is my judge

Hebrew

Danilo

God is my judge

Hebrew

Danko

God is my judge

Hebrew

Dannel

God is my judge

Hebrew

Dantrell

God is my judge

Hebrew

Danya

God is my judge

Hebrew

Danyal

God is my judge

Hebrew

Danyel

God is my judge

Hebrew

Deiniol

God is my judge

Hebrew


What names sound like Daniel?

If you like how Daniel sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Daniel.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Danby

The Dane's village

Scandinavian

Dannon

Form of Danson

American

Danon

From Denmark, Dane

English

Dante

Enduring

Latin

Danton

French

Donnel

World mighty; brown-haired fighter

Scottish

Nathanael

God has given

Hebrew

Nathaneal

God has given

Hebrew

Nathaniel

God has given

Hebrew

Thaniel

God has given

Hebrew


What names are similar to Daniel?

Find a name that’s like Daniel, but just a little bit different.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Christopher

Bearing Christ

English

David

Beloved

Hebrew

Elijah

My God is Yahweh

Hebrew

Gabriel

God is my strength

Hebrew

Isaac

He will laugh

Hebrew

Joseph

Jehovah will increase

Hebrew

Luke

From Lucania

Greek

Matthew

Gift of God

Hebrew

Michael

Who is Like God?

Hebrew

Noah

To rest

Hebrew


Lists With Daniel

Find inspiration in these baby boy name lists featuring the name Daniel.


Siblings of Daniel

Mamas with kids named Daniel also have kids with these names.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Erick

Everlasting ruler

Scandinavian

Lucia

Of the light

Italian

Jose

Jehovah will increase

Spanish

Carlos

Free man

Spanish

Pablo

A Spanish equivalent of Paul.

Spanish

Andres

Manly

Spanish

Michael

Who is Like God?

Hebrew

Jessica

To see

English

Justin

Just and fair

English

Miley

Smiley

American

Robert

Bright fame

German

Leona

Lion

Latin

Tierra

Earth

Spanish

Moses

Saviour

Hebrew

Zahir

Blossoming, flourishing

Arabic

Ben

Son

Hebrew

Cassi

Man's defender, warrior; pure

Greek

Ilana

Tree

Hebrew

Jeriah

Taught by God

Hebrew

Tabitha

Gazelle

Aramaic

David

Beloved

Hebrew

Renee

Reborn

French

40 Comments

  1. We named our son Daniel Peter after his grandfather. Both are Jewish names. Daniel (from the Prophets) was a loving leader of the Jewish people and Peter was a safe who co-authored a commentary on the Talmud. We hope to raise our son to love the Torah, teach others, and love people and treat them kindly.

  2. Eu queria dar ao meu filho um nome em ingles. Isso e perfeito.

  3. It is my father’s second name and my first baby doll I had which is funny.

  4. It is a family name. I love how the name has multiple nicknames. Danny Dan etc..

  5. My husband and I, were looking for a name that will sound similar in Polish (I’m from Poland), Albanian (my husband is from
    Albania) and in USA (we live here). Daniel was the perfect fit for our perfect baby boy ??

  6. Both my husband and I came independently to believe that God wanted us to name our first son Daniel. We love the name, and the meaning of God being your judge rather than man is such a strong meaning, especially in today’s world.

    • I love my name

  7. After having the difficulties during pregnancy that I did, and sitting through message after message in church about how Daniel found favor with God, Daniel was it. It suits him so well!

  8. Named after daddy.

  9. Named after his Daddy!

  10. Daniel was my husband’s father’s name. He passed away when my husband was little so he wanted to name our first son after him. ?

  11. Wanted my child to have a biblical name. Your baby names link helped us to make a choice.

  12. It’s a biblical name meaning that the lord is his judge. Have bothe classical and modern

  13. From family members that are no longer with us

  14. Oh iloveyoumum…hi my name is Daniel Jon Anthony king..my mum is ya Christan god an Jesus are all way her mind from that I can see on my brith certificate Daniel Jon Anthony king all names are from Bible.. got to love the Danieljonanthonyking.. John.3/16 for God loved the world so much he give he’s only begotten son so whoever believes with in him with all your heart shall never perish but have everlasting life AMEN ?? thank all Jesus Christ

  15. We have had the name Daniel on our name list since our first pregnancy, and we finally found it was the right time to use it. It seems when there is a name that you keep coming back to, or comparing other names to it usually means it’s the name that’s meant to be for your child.

  16. His very energetic

  17. His uncle’s from his dad side

  18. Daniel is a classic name that he can grow older with, and it won’t scream “you were definitely born in the 20’s!!”. I also wanted to go with something that wasn’t trendy and is easy to shorten. Danny or Dan are both great nicknames.

  19. Daniel is my husband’s middle name, and he was also named after his uncle. We also like the solid biblical foundation.

  20. We chose the name Daniel because it’s my husband’s family’s first boy so we named him after my father in-laws father.

  21. Named after his grandfathers (both named Daniel). Love the nickname Danny

  22. Got to get use to him. Am in love

  23. After my husband’s dad’s name, middle name is my dad’s name!

  24. We love the Bible character and the meaning “God is my Judge” behind the name, Daniel. We felt that it also gives a nod/direction to his life’s purpose.

  25. Daniel is my husband’s middle name and also a biblical name. We love that it is a biblical Christian name and that our son will have a strong and faithful historical figure to look up to.

  26. It is a family name.
    I had an older brother that past away that was named Daniel.

  27. I like this Biblical name. Your kid would
    love this name. If I’ll get a brother,
    I’ll name him… oh… Daniel. I such
    a nice name. Oh.. I knew it! A nice name!
    Bye!

  28. Daniel Allen Winkler Jr , He is his daddy’s twin he name after his dad.

  29. My husband and I chose this name because it is a classic name, which we wanted, and it is spelt the same and pronounced almost the same in English and Portuguese (my husband is Brazilian).

  30. Its a biblical name, meaning God is my strength. I like that the nicknames sounds good too . I make sure the name would sound right in all stages of his life.

    • The name Daniel suggests knowledge and strength together in one person.

  31. Daniel was in the bible but he is also a junior.

  32. He was named after his great uncle.

  33. We were adamant that baby 2 would need to be able to “thrive in adversity”. Daniel was a faithful follower of God even in slavery, faced with a fiery furnace, and the threat of death by lions. We wanted that kind of strength of character for our children. We named our first Serena for “peace” (due to repeated Holy Spirit impressions during pregnancy on John 14:27), we think that was more of a reassurance for me for the high spirited child we were having. Daniel is a very calm happy child so far. Serena was always a very determined intense child even from the beginning.

  34. Its a bible name and he got named after myhusbands favorite uncle.

  35. Daniel was chosen by his sister out of the Bible.

  36. My husband came home one night and said what about Daniel? And we both loved it.
    We love that it is a strong, traditional name that isn’t super common.
    We love the name and it fits our baby perfectly!

  37. Great biblical and historical name. Sweet and short.

  38. My name is Daniela so I figured if he/s going to have my husband’s last name it’s only fair he has my first names. 🙂
    Also, his middle name is Andres, which is the Spanish version of my husband’s middle name, Andrew.


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