daniel
origin: Hebrew
meaning: God is my Judge
Biblical classic…popular for decades…used all around the world…tons of variations…strong, solid long form…casual nicknames…yeah, Daniel’s in that camp. There’s actually an entire Old Testament book named after the biblical Daniel, telling of his life in Jewish captivity in Babylon and rise in the king’s court as a dream interpreter. He’s also the Daniel who was thrown into a lions’ den because of his refusal to stop praying to God but emerged unscathed thanks to an angel, hence the name’s meaning of “God is my judge.” That made him a pretty popular guy, so the name was well used in England during the Middle Ages. After fading around the fifteenth century, the name was revived after the Protestant Reformation and has been in the top 50 since at least the 1880s and in or close to the top 10 since 1973. We’ll go out on a limb and predict that good ole’ Danny will stick around the top of the charts for the next 20 years or so.
current U.S. popularity rank: 2010: 5
Famous daniel
- Daniel Radcliffe - actor
- Daniel Baldwin - actor
- Daniel Day-Lewis - actor
- Daniel Boone - American pioneer
- Daniel “Danny” DeVito - actor
Infamous daniel
- Daniel Green - convicted murderer
overall rating
the name daniel...
944 times
109 times
Add comment:
Micah Kwame or Micah Daniel. What do you think? Still debating....... I love Dominic but I already named my daughter Dominique Bee
by Sophierobert79My dad's name, and my mother's dad's name. I've always wanted to name my son Daniel and none of my 3 siblings did thank goodness! I hadn't told my husband yet that this is my fave (since we don't know if its a boy or girl) and today he tells me, "If its a boy I like the name Daniel...I've been thinking that for the last few days." :) We will find out tomorrow!
by edwardsesWe've decided on Daniel Maverick for us if its a boy! :)
by blackkat63yay!! i actually think i found our middle name for our baby boy!! ...im going to settle for Noah Daniel! :)
by mskcobainI love it!!! It's my husbands name, he's a Jr and want to continue the family tradition. But that isn't why I agreed to name our son (if that's what we have) Daniel. I like it because it's a good, strong name and I think a little boy needs a strong name.
by MrsWill07If it's a boy, Daniel is his name :)
by sushipatit's my husband first name and we want it if we have a boy!
by josisbThis is my new favorite name for a little boy. I can't believe it ranks in the top ten though--I don't know a single Daniel under age 25!
by PhilsWife07It's my husband's middle name and we've decided to use it as our first born first name. We love it.
by LeeNah09Im naming my son this I love the name I think it fits a little boy or a grown man
by mommyof3LifeI LOVE IT
by BabyMama2012Awesome! This is my sons name
by llenaj13 >> View all comments >> Collapse