Origin, Meaning, And History Of Daniel
Daniel comes from Hebrew origin and is derived from ‘Daniyyel,’ a Hebrew name that means ‘God is my judge.’ In the Old Testament of the Bible, the Book of Daniel mentions him as the Hebrew prophet who served the king and was known for his ability to interpret dreams and have apocalyptic visions. Daniel is also mentioned in the Book of Ezekiel of the Bible as someone praised for his virtue and wisdom. Hence, the name is associated with solid biblical figures, addressing a significant masculine being.
Another interesting fact is that in Judaism, ‘El’ at the end of the name is one of the names of God. Thus, Daniel carries the power of authority.
Owing to its reference to well-known biblical characters, the name started to be widely used among the Christian community. Much of its popularity may be credited to Daniel’s strong faith in the Bible when faced with pressure and persecution. Moreover, its namesake being the 2nd century Christian Martyr and 9th century hermit, the lives of which are popular among Christians, made Daniel a household name in the Middle Ages. Although the name started to lose its edge by the 15th century, the Protestant Reformation became its revival.
The name has several variations that differ by country and people. Some examples include Danilo (Spanish), Danilo (Portuguese), Danail (Bulgarian), Danijel (Croatian), and Danijel (Slovene). You may also explore some cool nicknames such as Dan, Dannie, Danny, and Dancho.
It is amazing how well the name has kept up with the pace of the entertainment industry and fiction in every generation. For example, in the 1984 movie ‘The Karate Kid,’ Daniel LaRusso was the protagonist. The American romantic drama ‘Ugly Betty’ has the name Daniel Meade. In the movie ‘A Few Good Men,’ the protagonist is described as Lieutenant Daniel Alistair Kaffee, which Tom Cruise plays. And the fictional TV series Fear the Walking Dead has Daniel Salazar as the main character and a survivor.
Hence, you can see the gravity of the name Daniel and its popularity among people that has surpassed generations.
Daniel
Boy
Christianity
Hebrew
9
Two
1 word, 6 letters, 3 vowels, 3 consonants
Medium length and easy to pronounce
How To Pronounce Daniel?
The way you pronounce a name can make all the difference.
Listen to the sound of the name Daniel in English.
Famous People With The Name Daniel
- Daniel Day-LewisBritish actor who won Oscars as Best actor for the movies My Left Foot, Lincoln, and There Will Be Blood
- Daniel KaluuyaBritish actor, best known for his spine-chilling performance in the movie Get Out, who won the Oscar for best supporting actor for the movie Judas and the Black Messiah
- Daniel CraigEnglish actor most popular for his role as James Bond and was nominated for a BAFTA for his first role as Bond
- Daniel DennettAmerican philosopher and writer who won the Jean Nicod Prize in 2001 and Erasmus Prize in 2012
- Daniel RadcliffeBritish actor, internationally appreciated for his role as Harry Potter in the Harry Potter franchise
Daniel On The Popularity Chart
Daniel has been an overly populated name since the 1980s. You can see the details of its popularity and ranking over the years in the given charts below.
Popularity Over Time
During the long period of 1980 to late 2007, the name remained highly popular among the parents to name their baby boys. Check out the graph below to understand how well it did on the popularity chart.
Source: Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
Daniel ranked the highest in 1983 at 12,078 but started to decline since then. Have a look at the chart to see more details.
Source: Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound As Daniel
If you liked the ring of the name Daniel and want something with a similar sound, have a look at the listed names.
Popular Sibling Names For Daniel
If you are looking for some matching sibling names that resonate with Daniel, check our suggestions here.
Boy Sibling Names For Daniel
Find matching brother names for Daniel and create a wonderful team of siblings.
DanialDanil Danila Danilo Daniyyel Danuel Danyal Danyel Danyell Danyelle Girl Sibling Names For Daniel
Looking for some suitable sister names for Daniel? Check out our collection of beautiful and unique names.
DanalaDanalyn Danelea Danell Danella Danelle Daniela Danielan Daniele Daniell Other Popular Names Beginning With D
Looking for more baby names starting with the letter D to resonate with your family’s naming tradition or to rhyme with the sibling names? Find a range of alternative names starting with this letter.
Names With Similar Meaning As Daniel
If you are searching for names that may appeal to your choices for having the same meaning as Daniel, the following suggestions may be helpful to you.
Infographic: Know The Name Daniel‘s Personality As Per Numerology
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
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How To Communicate The Name Daniel In Other Languages
In Nautical Flags
daniel
In Sign Language
daniel
In Braille Alphabet
daniel
In Morse Code
daniel
Name Numerology For Daniel
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the meaning of the name Daniel?
The name Daniel means ‘God is my judge.’
2. What is the origin of the name Daniel?
Daniel has a Hebrew origin.
3. How to pronounce the name Daniel?
Daniel is pronounced as da-nee-el.
4. What is a good middle name for Daniel?
Daniel is a Biblical name meaning ‘God is my judge.’ Following this route, these suggested middle names are also masculine names taken from the Bible. They include Phillip, Benjamin, Timothy, Gabriel, and Uriel.
5. How rare or common is the name Daniel in the US?
According to the data provided by the SSA, the name Daniel has been a popular choice in the US for over a century (1). In 2022, 9047 babies were given the name Daniel and it stood at rank 14. The name has not dropped from the Top 100 baby names in the US since 1900.
6. Is Daniel an angel’s name?
The masculine name Daniel is mentioned in the Book of Enoch, which is a Hebrew Apocalyptic text. Daniel is also spelled as Dânêl, and he is the seventh mentioned angel out of the 200 angels.
7. Is Daniel a medieval name?
Daniel can be considered an ancient name because of its long use in history. The first recorded use of the name Daniel was in the Bible, which is one of the oldest books in the world.
8. Is Daniel a unisex name?
The name Daniel has been widely used all over the world as a masculine name. The name also has feminine forms like Danielle, Daniela, Dany, Danijela, and Dana.
9. What are some notable historical figures named Daniel?
The most famous bearer of the name is Daniel, a prophet from the Bible. He is the main character in the Book of Daniel in the Bible. It is considered to be a canon of sacred writings. Daniel was also known for his wisdom in interpreting dreams.
References:
- Popularity of a Name Daniel.
https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/
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