Daniel Name Meaning

Daniel is frequently used as a boy name. Learn more about the meaning, origin, and popularity of the name Daniel.

Fact checked by Karen Cilli

Looking for a strong, traditional name for your baby boy? Daniel might be the perfect pick for you.

The name Daniel is a biblical name. Its earliest origins can be traced back to the Old Testament of the Bible, where it was defined as “God is my judge” in Hebrew.

Daniel of the Old Testament is known for remaining loyal to the God of Israel despite persecution and danger. According to the Bible, he was thrown into a lion’s den for refusing to worship the king, but God protected Daniel and the lions did not harm him. The biblical Daniel was also a visionary with the power to interpret dreams.

• Origin: The name Daniel comes from the Hebrew words din (to judge) and el (God). It is found in the Old Testament, notably in the Book of Daniel.

• Gender: Daniel is historically the masculine form of the name. Feminine variations, such as Danielle, Daniella, or Daniela, are also common.

• Pronunciation: DAN-yul

Editor's Note

Although many baby names are separated by gender, Parents believes that sex does not need to play a role in your name selection process. It’s important to select a name that you feel suits your new baby the best.

How Popular Is the Name Daniel?

Daniel is a name that never seems to go out of style. It’s an ever-popular name, having been a top-50 baby name for boys in the US throughout the past century.

The name Daniel steadily rose in popularity from the 1920s to the 1980s. It first broke into the top 20 in 1952, and the top 10 in 1976. Daniel was in the top 10 consistently from 1981 to 1995, reaching its peak at the rank of 5 in 1985 and 1990. Daniel was a top-10 name again from 1999 to 2011.

In 2022, Daniel was ranked as the 14th most popular name for boys in America.

Name Variations

As a biblical name, Daniel has an equivalent in virtually every known language. These include:

• Daan (Dutch)

• Danail (Bulgarian)

• Daniele (Italian)

• Danijel (Serbian/Croatian)

• Daniyyel (Hebrew)

• Danyal (Turkish)

• Dănuṭ (Romanian)

• Deiniol (Welsh)

• Dónall (Irish)

• Tanel (Estonian)

• Taneli (Finnish)

Similar Names

Other boy names from the Old Testament include:

• Aaron

• Abraham

• Asher

• Benjamin

• Caleb

• Elijah

• Ezra

• Jonathan

• Joshua

• Noah

• Samuel

• Silas

Other boy names starting with D:

• Dale

• Dana

• Darnell

• Darrell

• Darren

• David

• Davis

• Dennis

• Devon

• Devonte

• Dexter
  

• Diego

• Douglas
  

Common Nicknames for Daniel

Common nicknames for Daniel include:

• Dan: Suggests a sturdy, reliable, strong figure like Dan Rather, the longtime host of the CBS Evening News, or Dan Conner, the lovable dad portrayed by John Goodman in the TV shows Roseanne and The Conners. Dans are often nicknamed “Dan the Man”—mostly because it’s a convenient rhyme, but also because of its frequent usage. This name connotes a big personality.

• Danny: Has more of a playful, boyish spirit. Many who are called Danny as kids grow up to be called Dan. Adults still known as Danny may have a funny or mischievous spirit, like the impish actor Danny DeVito, Danny Tanner (the dad played by Bob Saget in Full House), or the greaser Danny Zuko memorably portrayed by John Travolta in Grease.

Suggested Sibling Names

• Adele

• Andrew

• Deborah

• Edmund

• James

• Max

• Michael
  

• Naomi

• Nora

• Peter

• Rachel

• Rebecca

• Sarah

• Rose

• Violet

• Walter

Famous People Named Daniel

Notable Daniels in the US, like the pioneer Daniel Boone and the 19th-century statesman Daniel Webster, embodied the biblical Daniel’s loyalty and courage. The name Daniel is also associated with distinguished English actors such as Daniel Radcliffe, Daniel Day-Lewis, and Daniel Craig.

Famous Daniels

• Daniel Bernoulli, Dutch-Swiss mathematician

• Daniel Defoe, British writer, best known as the author of Robinson Crusoe

• Daniel Ellsberg, American activist

• Daniel Tosh, American comedian

Famous Dans

• Dan Aykroyd, Canadian-American actor best known for appearing in Saturday Night Live and Ghostbusters

• Dan Castellanata, American actor best known for voicing Homer Simpson

• Dan DeCarlo, American cartoonist, co-creator of Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Josie and the Pussycats

• Dan Gurney, American racecar driver

• Dan Marino, retired NFL quarterback for the Miami Dolphins

• Dan Rather, American journalist and news anchor

Famous Dannys

• Danny DeVito, American actor

• Danny Elfman, American musician and film composer

• Danny Glover, American actor

• Danny Kaye, American actor and comedian

• Danny O’Reilly, Irish musician

Fictional Dans, Daniels, & Dannys

• Dan Conner, Roseanne, The Conners

• Daniel LaRusso, The Karate Kid

• Daniel Tiger, Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood

• Danny Phantom, Danny Phantom

• Danny Tanner, Full House
  

More Baby Names

Still searching for the perfect baby name? Check out these related baby name lists for even more options:

• Top 1,000 Baby Boy Names

• 45 Gender-Neutral Baby Names

• 275 Popular Baby Names for Twins

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Read the original article on Parents.