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BabyNames
Boy name#13 of boy names

Daniel

Pronounced D AE1 N IY0 L (ARPABET)

  • 2 syllables
  • Peaked 1985
  • 145 years in use
  • Biblical
  • 2 spellings
Compare

How popular is Daniel?

Daniel is a boys' name, and has been in the record since the data starts in 1880. It has been given to 1,991,999 children — the 13th most common boys' name on record.

It has been slipping, down 39% on the previous decade. Its best single year was 1985, when 38,611 children were given it.

Two other spellings are counted in that total — Danniel and Daniell — because they are pronounced identically.

012,50025,00037,50050,00018901920195019802010
1985Boys: 38,611Girls: 400

Spelling variants

These spellings sound identical to Daniel and are counted together with it, which is why the totals here are higher than a single-spelling count.

  • Danniel
  • Daniell

Nicknames

Common short forms: Dan, Danny.

Characteristics

  • Biblical (Person)
  • 2 syllables
Phonetic detail
Pronunciations:
D AE1 N IY0 L · D AE1 N N IY1 L · D AE1 N Y AH0 L
Stress pattern:
10 · 11 · 10
Syllables:
2

Stress digits mark unstressed (0), primary (1) and secondary (2) syllables.

Names like Daniel

Same first letter and syllable count, peaking around the same time.

Sibling names for Daniel

Names from the same era with a matching rhythm but a different initial.

Frequently asked questions

How popular is the name Daniel?
Daniel ranks 13th among boys' names in US records, with 1,991,999 births since 1880. Over the past decade it accounts for 105,573.
Is Daniel a unisex name?
No. Daniel is recorded almost entirely as a boys' name; births to the other gender are too few to register as a share.
When was Daniel most popular?
1985, when 38,611 children were given the name. It has been in use for 145 years and is still recorded as of 2024.
What are common nicknames for Daniel?
Dan, Danny. These are recorded as separate names in their own right, so each has its own page and its own popularity curve.
How else is Daniel spelled?
Danniel, Daniell. All of these sound the same and are counted together in the totals on this page.