The boy's name Daniel \d(a)-niel\ is pronounced DAN-yel. It is of Hebrew origin, and its meaning is "God is my judge". Biblical: the prophet and writer of the book of Daniel was a teenager when he was taken to Babylon after the destruction of Jerusalem in 607 BC. He survived a politically motivated death sentence in a lions' den. Many prominent men have had the name since, among them statesman Daniel Webster and frontiersman Daniel Boone. Danilo is a Spanish form; Dantrell is a contemporary blended variant. Novelist Daniel Defoe; entertainers Danny Thomas, Danny Kaye; Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan; actors Daniel Day-Lewis, Danny DeVito, Danny Aiello, Daniel Radcliffe.

ORIGIN
Hebrew

MEANING
God is my judge

In the Old Testament, Daniel was a prophet whose story is told in the Book of Daniel. His enemies sent him into the lion's den where God set him free. First hit the top 20 in 1952 and climbed into the top 10 in 1976. Influenced by British actor Daniel Radcliffe of Harry Potter fame.

VARIATIONS
Danielle Daniella Dani

ALTERNATIVES
Danial Danyal Danyel Danyele

NICKNAMES
Danny Dan

FAMOUS Daniels
Daniel Goddard (actor) Daniel Day-Lewis (British actor) Daniel Baldwin (actor) Daniel Boone (frontiersman) Daniel Craig (British actor) Daniel Cabrera (Dominican baseball player)

More Baby Name Advice, Tips And Ideas:

Click below for lists of popular baby names from other years.

2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995 | 1994 | 1993 | 1992 | 1991 | 1990 | 1980 - 1989 | 1970 - 1979 | 1960 - 1969 | 1950 - 1959 | 1940 - 1949 | 1930 - 1939 | 1920 - 1929 | 1910 - 1919 | 1900 - 1909 |