Nathanael is a distinctive choice, ranked #856 in 2025. Your child is likely to be the only Nathanael in their class.
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UK Rank 2025
#856
US Rank #632
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About the Name Nathanael
Nathanael is gradually declining in popularity, having dropped 26 places over five years. Its high point was #398 in 1998, and it now sits at #924. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996.
Nathanael is uncommon in the UK, so your child is very likely to be the only Nathanael in their class.
In the US it ranks even higher at #674, where it enjoys a particularly strong following.
⭐ Famous People Named Nathanael
Nathanael Barnes — Nathanael Barnes is an Australian rugby league footballer.
Nathanael Mbourou — Nathanael Bongo Mbourou is a Gabonese professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Moldovan club Bălți and the Gabon national team.
Nathanael Liminski — Nathanael Liminski is a German politician from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU).
Biographical summaries are shortened from Wikipedia and are used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence; those summaries remain available under that same licence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Nathanael
Unlikely. With around 37 UK babies named Nathanael per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Nathanael in their class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Nathanael has been fairly steady, ranked #856 in 2025 against #898 in 2020. Its best recorded position was #398 in 1998.
Nathanael is more popular in the US (#674) than in the UK (#924). Names with strong rankings in both countries tend to have broad cross-cultural appeal, working well for international families or those with ties to both nations.
Notable people named Nathanael include: Nathanael Barnes, Nathanael Mbourou and Nathanael Liminski. Short summaries for each appear below.
Nathanael ranks #674 in the US top 1,000 (2024). It's recognised in America but considerably more popular in the UK.
37
UK babies named Nathanael (2025)
< 1
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.0
In a school of 600
↑ 42 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Nathanael
Almost certainly the only Nathanael in the class
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UK Popularity (1996–2025)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2025)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to Nathanael
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story