"God is my judge"
Origin: Hebrew
Language: English
Daniel
Pronunciation: [ d-ANY-uhl ]
Does Daniel flow with your last name?
A prophet's name carrying millennia of faith and strength
English
American
Hebrew
Spanish
Classic
Strong
Traditional
Spiritual
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Meaning & Origin
"divine judgment"
Origin: Hebrew
Language: Hebrew
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The Story of Daniel
Daniel comes from the Hebrew name Daniyyel, meaning God is my judge, combining din meaning to judge and El meaning God. It is one of the most internationally recognized biblical names. As a girls name, Daniel follows the trend of biblical male names being adopted for girls, though Danielle remains the more common feminine form.
Daniel has been a consistently popular boys name for decades. For girls, it remains unusual, with Danielle being the preferred feminine variant. Parents choosing Daniel for girls typically appreciate its strength and familiarity while wanting something less expected than Danielle.
Daniel is a major prophet in the Hebrew Bible, known for interpreting dreams and surviving the lion's den. The Book of Daniel is one of the most widely studied in the Old Testament. The name appears across Jewish, Christian, and Muslim traditions as one of the great prophets.
Historical Record
Daniel first appeared in US Social Security records in 1950.
Over 7,367 babies have been named Daniel in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Daniel is past its peak , currently ranked #12,369 for girl names in the US .
Fun Facts
- The Biblical Daniel is said to have interpreted Nebuchadnezzar's dreams and survived being thrown into a lion's den
- Daniel has been a top-20 boys name in the United States for most of the past century
Daniel in Other Languages
Arabic
Daniyal
French
Daniel
German
Daniel
Hebrew
Daniyyel
Spanish
Daniel
Popularity Over Time
#12,369
Current Rank
Stable
Trend
Peaked 1985
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
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Compare Daniel with:
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 3
- Popularity Rank
- #12,369
- Total SSA Count
- 9
- Cultural Origins
- English American Hebrew Spanish
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Dani
Danny
Danie
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
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Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
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Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-1 syllable flow
Middle Names
Middle Names for Daniel
6 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
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Also a Boy Name
Daniel is also used as a boy name, ranked #16.
View Daniel as a boy name →Similar Names
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Same Origin Names (English)
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Annexie
Girl
Hebrew via Latin origin
"grace, favor"
#12,186 in US
Isma
Girl
Islamic theology origin
"divine protection, infallibility"
#12,363 in US
Johnny
Girl
Hebrew (Yohanan via John) origin
"God is gracious"
#12,364 in US
Nev
Girl
Welsh nef meaning heaven origin
"holy, sacred"
#12,568 in US
Borghild
Girl
Old Norse origin
"fortified battle"
#12,362 in US
Beena
Girl
Sanskrit origin
"veena; musical lute instrument"
#12,277 in US
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Frequently Asked Questions About Daniel
What does the name Daniel mean?
"God is my judge" (from Hebrew). "divine judgment" (from Hebrew). Daniel comes from the Hebrew name Daniyyel, meaning God is my judge, combining din meaning to judge and El meaning God. It is one of the most internationally recognized biblical names. As a girls name, Daniel follows the trend of biblical male names being adopted for girls, though Danielle remains the more common feminine form.
What is the origin of the name Daniel?
Daniel has Hebrew, English, American, and Spanish origins. In Hebrew, it means "God is my judge". In Hebrew, it means "divine judgment".
Is Daniel a boy or girl name?
Daniel is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it is ranked #12369. As a boy name, it is ranked #16. Daniel is more commonly used as a boy name.
How do you pronounce Daniel?
Daniel is pronounced d-ANY-uhl.
How popular is the name Daniel?
Daniel is currently ranked #12369 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Daniel?
Common nicknames for Daniel include Dani, Danny, and Danie.
What are good middle names for Daniel?
Popular middle name pairings include Daniel Rose, Daniel Grace, Daniel Marie, Daniel Claire, Daniel Faith, and Daniel Skye.
What are good sibling names for Daniel?
Names that pair well with Daniel as siblings include Michaela, Jonathan, Elijah, Sophia, Hannah, and Nathan.
How many syllables does Daniel have?
Daniel has 3 syllables, making it distinctive and rhythmic.
Is Daniel a common or rare name?
Daniel is an uncommon name, ranked #12369 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.
What girl names are similar to Daniel?
About the Name Daniel
Daniel is a girl name with English, American, Hebrew, and Spanish origins . The name means "God is my judge" in Hebrew .
Is Daniel a boy or girl name? Daniel is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #12,369 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #16. Daniel is more commonly used as a boy name.
Daniel is currently ranked #12,369 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Daniel has 3 syllables and is pronounced d-ANY-uhl, making it distinctive and memorable.
Common nicknames for Daniel include Dani, Danny, and Danie. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Daniel include Daniela, Daniella, Danielle, Dani, Dania . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
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Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis