Nathanael
Meaning of Nathanael
Nathanael—pronounced nath-uh-NAY-əl—unfolds like the strum of a Spanish guitarra, rich, warm, and just a little unexpected. Rooted in the Hebrew phrase for “gift of God,” the name first stepped onto the world stage in the Gospel of John, where the quick-witted disciple lounging under a fig tree becomes a symbol of honest faith. Over the centuries it has wandered from synagogue to cathedral, from dusty Roman roads to modern city plazas, gathering a quiet, steady charm. In the United States, Nathanael never crashes the party with top-ten swagger, yet—much like the soft marimba that steals the show at an after-dinner fiesta—he’s always there, dependable, distinctive, and delightfully underused (hovering around the 500s in recent years). Parents who choose Nathanael are inviting a little boy to carry a timeless blessing, a story threaded with grace, and a name that feels as comforting as abuelita’s hot chocolate on a cool evening.
Pronunciation
British English
- Pronunced as nath-uh-NAYL (/nɒˈ hetae.ni.l/)
American English
- Pronunced as nath-uh-NAYL (/nɒˈθɑnəl/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
States Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Nathanael
| Nathanael Greene was a distinguished Revolutionary War commander revered as George Washington's most trusted officer and celebrated for his pivotal victories in the Southern campaign. |
| Nathanael West was an American writer famous for his darkly satirical novels Miss Lonelyhearts and The Day of the Locust. |
| Nathanael Greene Herreshoff was an American naval architect and engineer who designed a series of undefeated America's Cup defenders from 1893 to 1920. |
| Nathanael Ball was an English clergyman who assisted Brian Walton with the London Polyglot Bible. |
| Nathanael Carpenter was an English writer, philosopher, and geographer. |
| Nathanael Gray - Nathanael S. Gray is an American chemist and Stanford professor known for his leadership in cancer therapeutics and co-founding biotech companies such as C4 Therapeutics. |
| Nathanael of Ohrid was a Bulgarian cleric, writer, and revolutionary who pioneered modern Bulgarian literature and contributed to the National Revival. |
| Nathanael Gottfried Leske was a German natural scientist and geologist from the Holy Roman Empire. |
| Nathanael Saleh - Nathanael Isaac E. Saleh is an English actor best known for playing John Banks in Mary Poppins Returns and for his key role in The Letter for the King. |
| Nathanael Greene Pendleton served as a U.S. Representative from Ohio and was the father of George Hunt Pendleton. |
