Fun Facts About the Name Daniel
- A favorite across generations: Daniel stayed in the U.S. top 100 every year from 1880 through 2025 - 146 consecutive years.
- An all-time favorite: U.S. records show 1,982,674 boys named Daniel from 1880 through 2025.
- Still popular, but losing ground: Daniel's rank fell 13 places between 1995 and 2025, while remaining in the top 100.
- More than 1 million babies named Daniel: U.S. records list 1,990,950 babies given the name Daniel from 1880 through 2025. Even 8,276 girls received the name Daniel - about 1 girl for every 240 boys.
What Does the Name Daniel Mean?
Daniel is a masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my judge." It comes from the Hebrew דָּנִיֵּאל (Daniyyel), usually explained as dānī ("my judge") plus ʾēl ("God"). The literal sense is "my judge is God," traditionally rendered "God is my judge." The shorter Hebrew name Dan ("judge") shares the same root, but it is a separate name.
Daniel Name History & Origins
The name is best known from the prophet Daniel in the Hebrew Bible, a Jewish exile in Babylon. The Book of Daniel presents him serving in the Babylonian and Persian courts, interpreting dreams, receiving visions, and escaping from a lions' den. The name also appears in the Book of Ezekiel, where Daniel is named as a righteous man. These biblical texts are the main context for the name's early use.
From Hebrew, the name passed into Greek as Δανιήλ (Daniēl) in the Septuagint and the New Testament, and into Latin as Daniel in the Vulgate. The Gospel of Matthew refers to "Daniel the prophet" (24:15). Christian communities adopted the name through these scriptural texts. It appears in Old English and Middle English as Daniel, and an Old English poem based on the biblical book is also called Daniel.
Jewish communities have continued to use the Hebrew form Daniyyel. In Islamic tradition, Daniel (Dāniyāl) appears in later extra-Quranic stories rather than in the Quran itself. English has used the name in the form Daniel since the medieval period. Modern forms include Italian Daniele, Russian Daniil, and Arabic Dāniyāl.
How Popular is the Name Daniel?
Daniel has maintained century-spanning popularity, remaining an unbroken fixture in the U.S. top 100 continuously from 1880 to 2025.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #11,166 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2024 | #10,441 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 2023 | #6,473 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 2022 | #9,189 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 2021 | #8,591 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2020 | #6,128 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 2019 | #6,781 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 2018 | #6,312 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 2017 | #7,948 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2016 | #5,322 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 2015 | #6,288 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 2014 | #5,348 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 2013 | #4,787 | 29 | 0.0017% |
| 2012 | #6,666 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 2011 | #5,411 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 2010 | #4,770 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 2009 | #3,888 | 40 | 0.0022% |
| 2008 | #3,335 | 50 | 0.0026% |
| 2007 | #4,846 | 30 | 0.0016% |
| 2006 | #3,421 | 47 | 0.0025% |
| 2005 | #3,135 | 50 | 0.0027% |
| 2004 | #2,294 | 76 | 0.0041% |
| 2003 | #2,897 | 53 | 0.0029% |
| 2002 | #3,536 | 38 | 0.0021% |
| 2001 | #2,516 | 61 | 0.0034% |
| 2000 | #2,434 | 63 | 0.0035% |
| 1999 | #2,317 | 64 | 0.0036% |
| 1998 | #2,015 | 74 | 0.0042% |
| 1997 | #1,852 | 80 | 0.0046% |
| 1996 | #1,899 | 76 | 0.0043% |
| 1995 | #1,511 | 104 | 0.0059% |
| 1994 | #1,296 | 131 | 0.0073% |
| 1993 | #1,302 | 130 | 0.0072% |
| 1992 | #1,190 | 147 | 0.0080% |
| 1991 | #1,087 | 166 | 0.0089% |
| 1990 | #1,164 | 148 | 0.0078% |
| 1989 | #945 | 188 | 0.0102% |
| 1988 | #686 | 280 | 0.0157% |
| 1987 | #693 | 265 | 0.0152% |
| 1986 | #641 | 288 | 0.0168% |
| 1985 | #634 | 294 | 0.0171% |
| 1984 | #648 | 269 | 0.0160% |
| 1983 | #666 | 258 | 0.0154% |
| 1982 | #687 | 255 | 0.0151% |
| 1981 | #766 | 213 | 0.0128% |
| 1980 | #757 | 219 | 0.0132% |
| 1979 | #786 | 202 | 0.0126% |
| 1978 | #837 | 177 | 0.0116% |
| 1977 | #783 | 193 | 0.0126% |
| 1976 | #807 | 172 | 0.0117% |
| 1975 | #823 | 165 | 0.0113% |
| 1974 | #856 | 153 | 0.0104% |
| 1973 | #884 | 142 | 0.0097% |
| 1972 | #930 | 132 | 0.0087% |
| 1971 | #1,041 | 116 | 0.0070% |
| 1970 | #1,145 | 101 | 0.0058% |
| 1969 | #1,117 | 98 | 0.0058% |
| 1968 | #1,023 | 103 | 0.0063% |
| 1967 | #1,093 | 91 | 0.0055% |
| 1966 | #1,244 | 75 | 0.0044% |
| 1965 | #1,048 | 100 | 0.0057% |
| 1964 | #1,268 | 76 | 0.0040% |
| 1963 | #1,203 | 83 | 0.0043% |
| 1962 | #1,082 | 100 | 0.0051% |
| 1961 | #1,387 | 65 | 0.0032% |
| 1960 | #1,238 | 78 | 0.0039% |
| 1959 | #1,233 | 75 | 0.0037% |
| 1958 | #1,305 | 66 | 0.0033% |
| 1957 | #1,399 | 57 | 0.0028% |
| 1956 | #1,402 | 56 | 0.0028% |
| 1955 | #1,468 | 48 | 0.0025% |
| 1954 | #1,566 | 42 | 0.0022% |
| 1953 | #1,476 | 44 | 0.0023% |
| 1952 | #1,788 | 31 | 0.0017% |
| 1951 | #1,669 | 33 | 0.0018% |
| 1950 | #1,380 | 44 | 0.0026% |
| 1949 | #1,355 | 46 | 0.0027% |
| 1948 | #1,330 | 48 | 0.0028% |
| 1947 | #1,582 | 36 | 0.0020% |
| 1946 | #1,534 | 33 | 0.0021% |
| 1945 | #1,424 | 32 | 0.0024% |
| 1944 | #1,619 | 26 | 0.0020% |
| 1943 | #1,428 | 34 | 0.0024% |
| 1942 | #1,564 | 28 | 0.0021% |
| 1941 | #1,389 | 31 | 0.0026% |
| 1940 | #1,644 | 23 | 0.0020% |
| 1939 | #1,598 | 23 | 0.0021% |
| 1938 | #1,449 | 27 | 0.0024% |
| 1937 | #2,018 | 16 | 0.0015% |
| 1936 | #1,814 | 18 | 0.0017% |
| 1935 | #1,938 | 17 | 0.0016% |
| 1934 | #1,614 | 22 | 0.0021% |
| 1933 | #1,983 | 16 | 0.0016% |
| 1932 | #1,831 | 19 | 0.0018% |
| 1931 | #1,467 | 26 | 0.0024% |
| 1930 | #1,672 | 23 | 0.0020% |
| 1929 | #1,259 | 35 | 0.0031% |
| 1928 | #1,317 | 34 | 0.0029% |
| 1927 | #1,368 | 35 | 0.0029% |
| 1926 | #1,456 | 31 | 0.0026% |
| 1925 | #1,704 | 25 | 0.0021% |
| 1924 | #1,577 | 29 | 0.0023% |
| 1923 | #2,615 | 13 | 0.0011% |
| 1922 | #1,911 | 21 | 0.0017% |
| 1921 | #2,308 | 16 | 0.0013% |
| 1920 | #2,092 | 18 | 0.0015% |
| 1919 | #3,053 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1918 | #1,977 | 19 | 0.0016% |
| 1917 | #2,593 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1916 | #2,699 | 11 | 0.0011% |
| 1915 | #2,947 | 9 | 0.0009% |
| 1914 | #1,830 | 14 | 0.0018% |
| 1913 | #2,601 | 7 | 0.0011% |
| 1912 | #2,705 | 6 | 0.0011% |
| 1905 | #2,005 | 5 | 0.0017% |
| 1900 | #1,608 | 7 | 0.0023% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #22 | 8,085 | 0.4733% |
| 2024 | #16 | 8,391 | 0.4892% |
| 2023 | #17 | 8,391 | 0.4911% |
| 2022 | #14 | 9,109 | 0.5222% |
| 2021 | #16 | 9,152 | 0.5235% |
| 2020 | #14 | 9,521 | 0.5519% |
| 2019 | #15 | 10,585 | 0.5902% |
| 2018 | #15 | 11,290 | 0.6219% |
| 2017 | #15 | 11,753 | 0.6352% |
| 2016 | #13 | 12,992 | 0.6848% |
| 2015 | #12 | 13,540 | 0.7066% |
| 2014 | #10 | 13,956 | 0.7267% |
| 2013 | #10 | 14,323 | 0.7573% |
| 2012 | #11 | 14,301 | 0.7540% |
| 2011 | #10 | 15,304 | 0.8059% |
| 2010 | #8 | 15,865 | 0.8270% |
| 2009 | #7 | 17,563 | 0.8855% |
| 2008 | #5 | 19,030 | 0.9329% |
| 2007 | #5 | 20,264 | 0.9765% |
| 2006 | #6 | 20,079 | 0.9770% |
| 2005 | #7 | 20,234 | 1.0131% |
| 2004 | #7 | 21,012 | 1.0586% |
| 2003 | #8 | 21,069 | 1.0666% |
| 2002 | #10 | 21,350 | 1.0997% |
| 2001 | #9 | 21,013 | 1.0816% |
| 2000 | #9 | 22,337 | 1.1374% |
| 1999 | #9 | 22,705 | 1.1825% |
| 1998 | #12 | 23,162 | 1.2118% |
| 1997 | #11 | 23,950 | 1.2705% |
| 1996 | #11 | 25,125 | 1.3264% |
| 1995 | #9 | 26,727 | 1.4040% |
| 1994 | #8 | 28,062 | 1.4525% |
| 1993 | #7 | 28,694 | 1.4630% |
| 1992 | #7 | 29,157 | 1.4598% |
| 1991 | #6 | 30,932 | 1.5311% |
| 1990 | #5 | 33,831 | 1.6471% |
| 1989 | #6 | 35,009 | 1.7497% |
| 1988 | #8 | 34,718 | 1.8137% |
| 1987 | #7 | 35,875 | 1.9215% |
| 1986 | #6 | 36,574 | 1.9861% |
| 1985 | #5 | 38,564 | 2.0865% |
| 1984 | #6 | 36,533 | 2.0241% |
| 1983 | #8 | 34,748 | 1.9383% |
| 1982 | #10 | 32,654 | 1.7995% |
| 1981 | #10 | 30,989 | 1.7300% |
| 1980 | #11 | 29,895 | 1.6756% |
| 1979 | #12 | 28,521 | 1.6566% |
| 1978 | #11 | 26,442 | 1.6104% |
| 1977 | #11 | 26,074 | 1.5867% |
| 1976 | #10 | 24,704 | 1.5743% |
| 1975 | #11 | 23,816 | 1.5252% |
| 1974 | #11 | 23,834 | 1.5157% |
| 1973 | #11 | 23,673 | 1.5188% |
| 1972 | #15 | 22,091 | 1.3622% |
| 1971 | #20 | 21,787 | 1.2319% |
| 1970 | #19 | 23,521 | 1.2657% |
| 1969 | #18 | 23,165 | 1.2954% |
| 1968 | #18 | 22,015 | 1.2667% |
| 1967 | #19 | 22,193 | 1.2726% |
| 1966 | #19 | 23,270 | 1.3047% |
| 1965 | #17 | 24,834 | 1.3349% |
| 1964 | #19 | 24,343 | 1.2216% |
| 1963 | #19 | 24,816 | 1.2220% |
| 1962 | #17 | 25,542 | 1.2347% |
| 1961 | #17 | 25,898 | 1.2193% |
| 1960 | #17 | 25,938 | 1.2167% |
| 1959 | #18 | 25,156 | 1.1785% |
| 1958 | #16 | 25,615 | 1.2069% |
| 1957 | #16 | 27,339 | 1.2673% |
| 1956 | #18 | 26,653 | 1.2600% |
| 1955 | #17 | 26,458 | 1.2845% |
| 1954 | #18 | 25,275 | 1.2397% |
| 1953 | #20 | 23,499 | 1.1914% |
| 1952 | #20 | 23,420 | 1.2049% |
| 1951 | #21 | 21,121 | 1.1218% |
| 1950 | #21 | 19,189 | 1.0718% |
| 1949 | #22 | 18,240 | 1.0282% |
| 1948 | #22 | 16,509 | 0.9409% |
| 1947 | #22 | 15,189 | 0.8302% |
| 1946 | #21 | 12,867 | 0.7923% |
| 1945 | #24 | 9,708 | 0.7213% |
| 1944 | #25 | 9,314 | 0.6834% |
| 1943 | #25 | 9,168 | 0.6423% |
| 1942 | #28 | 8,507 | 0.6159% |
| 1941 | #31 | 7,049 | 0.5739% |
| 1940 | #34 | 6,225 | 0.5370% |
| 1939 | #38 | 5,797 | 0.5237% |
| 1938 | #39 | 5,584 | 0.5035% |
| 1937 | #39 | 5,123 | 0.4803% |
| 1936 | #41 | 4,817 | 0.4644% |
| 1935 | #43 | 4,591 | 0.4409% |
| 1934 | #42 | 4,502 | 0.4360% |
| 1933 | #42 | 4,310 | 0.4347% |
| 1932 | #42 | 4,449 | 0.4261% |
| 1931 | #44 | 4,360 | 0.4194% |
| 1930 | #47 | 4,465 | 0.4069% |
| 1929 | #47 | 4,366 | 0.4059% |
| 1928 | #47 | 4,426 | 0.3996% |
| 1927 | #46 | 4,615 | 0.4095% |
| 1926 | #46 | 4,516 | 0.4067% |
| 1925 | #44 | 4,548 | 0.4076% |
| 1924 | #47 | 4,403 | 0.3887% |
| 1923 | #47 | 4,264 | 0.3890% |
| 1922 | #47 | 4,285 | 0.3938% |
| 1921 | #49 | 4,087 | 0.3711% |
| 1920 | #52 | 3,897 | 0.3661% |
| 1919 | #51 | 3,526 | 0.3597% |
| 1918 | #52 | 3,726 | 0.3676% |
| 1917 | #54 | 3,360 | 0.3631% |
| 1916 | #55 | 3,149 | 0.3538% |
| 1915 | #55 | 3,002 | 0.3538% |
| 1914 | #55 | 2,325 | 0.3551% |
| 1913 | #54 | 1,878 | 0.3664% |
| 1912 | #53 | 1,524 | 0.3545% |
| 1911 | #53 | 796 | 0.3523% |
| 1910 | #53 | 692 | 0.3563% |
| 1909 | #54 | 569 | 0.3470% |
| 1908 | #54 | 530 | 0.3434% |
| 1907 | #52 | 528 | 0.3596% |
| 1906 | #48 | 506 | 0.3800% |
| 1905 | #50 | 484 | 0.3658% |
| 1904 | #49 | 472 | 0.3684% |
| 1903 | #50 | 432 | 0.3623% |
| 1902 | #45 | 501 | 0.4084% |
| 1901 | #48 | 416 | 0.3907% |
| 1900 | #44 | 598 | 0.3974% |
| 1899 | #42 | 485 | 0.4566% |
| 1898 | #45 | 523 | 0.4263% |
| 1897 | #39 | 520 | 0.4612% |
| 1896 | #38 | 561 | 0.4692% |
| 1895 | #40 | 516 | 0.4395% |
| 1894 | #41 | 515 | 0.4449% |
| 1893 | #39 | 522 | 0.4648% |
| 1892 | #41 | 533 | 0.4368% |
| 1891 | #37 | 505 | 0.4991% |
| 1890 | #39 | 505 | 0.4549% |
| 1889 | #36 | 515 | 0.4657% |
| 1888 | #35 | 566 | 0.4683% |
| 1887 | #31 | 556 | 0.5483% |
| 1886 | #33 | 555 | 0.5010% |
| 1885 | #32 | 535 | 0.4963% |
| 1884 | #32 | 573 | 0.5007% |
| 1883 | #25 | 615 | 0.5878% |
| 1882 | #29 | 594 | 0.5225% |
| 1881 | #29 | 527 | 0.5232% |
| 1880 | #25 | 643 | 0.5820% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
