Daniel
Peaked at #5 nationally in 1985, based on real US Social Security Administration birth records.
Girls vs. boys, all-time
Since 1880, Daniel has been recorded <1% of the time for girls and >99% of the time for boys.
Meaning & origin
Daniel comes from the Hebrew "Daniyyel," meaning "God is my judge." It draws on the Old Testament prophet Daniel, celebrated for interpreting dreams and surviving a night in a den of lions, and the name has remained popular across Jewish and Christian traditions ever since.
Notable people & culture
American frontiersman Daniel Boone helped cement the name's place in U.S. history, while modern bearers include actors Daniel Day-Lewis, Daniel Radcliffe, and Daniel Craig. It is typically shortened to Dan or Danny.
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Daniel — Girls (United States)
FallingPeak rank
#634
in 1985
Current rank
#10441
in 2024
Years tracked
115
1900–2024
Trend
Falling
Tracked since 1900, Daniel reached its peak popularity for girls in 1985, ranking #634 nationally with 294 babies given the name that year.
Over the last 10 years of data, its rank has slipped from #5348 (2014) to #10441 (2024) — a 49% drop.
As of 2024, Daniel ranks #10441 nationally for girls, with 9 babies given the name that year.
Recent years
| Year | Rank | Births |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #10,441 | 9 |
| 2023 | #6,473 | 18 |
| 2022 | #9,189 | 11 |
| 2021 | #8,591 | 12 |
| 2020 | #6,128 | 19 |
| 2019 | #6,781 | 17 |
| 2018 | #6,312 | 19 |
| 2017 | #7,948 | 14 |
Daniel — Boys (United States)
FallingPeak rank
#5
in 1985
Current rank
#16
in 2024
Years tracked
145
1880–2024
Trend
Falling
Tracked since 1880, Daniel reached its peak popularity for boys in 1985, ranking #5 nationally with 38,564 babies given the name that year.
Over the last 10 years of data, its rank has slipped from #10 (2014) to #16 (2024) — a 37% drop.
As of 2024, Daniel ranks #16 nationally for boys, with 8,391 babies given the name that year.
Recent years
| Year | Rank | Births |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #16 | 8,391 |
| 2023 | #17 | 8,391 |
| 2022 | #14 | 9,109 |
| 2021 | #16 | 9,152 |
| 2020 | #14 | 9,521 |
| 2019 | #15 | 10,585 |
| 2018 | #15 | 11,290 |
| 2017 | #15 | 11,753 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, National Data, 1880–2024.
Similar trajectory
Other names that peaked around the same era and rose or fell on a comparable curve.
Based on US data — boys' names only.
Common Questions
When was Daniel most popular?
Daniel was most popular in 1985, when it ranked #5 nationally for boys — the highest rank it has reached in this data.
Is Daniel becoming more or less popular?
For girls, it's currently falling; for boys, it's currently falling, based on the last decade of SSA data.
How many babies have been named Daniel?
At least 1,982,857 babies have been recorded with the name Daniel in the US since 1880, according to Social Security Administration birth records.
Looking for more name ideas like Daniel? Try the Baby Name Generator or compare it against other names on the Name Trends hub.