Nathaniel

English

Etymology

Modification, under influence of Daniel, of Nathanael, from Ancient Greek Ναθαναήλ (Nathanaḗl), from Biblical Hebrew נְתַנְאֵל (Netan'el, literally “God has given”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /nəˈθæn.jəl/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Proper noun

Nathaniel

1. A male given name from Hebrew.
   • 1594 William Shakespeare: The Taming of the Shrew: Act IV, Scene I:

     Nathaniel's coat, sir, was not fully made,

     And Gabriel's pumps were all unpink'd i' the heel.

   • 1837 Charles Dickens, The Pickwick Papers, Chapter 34:

     ‘What’s your Christian name, Sir?’ angrily inquired the little judge. ‘Nathaniel, Sir.’ ‘Daniel—any other name?’ ‘Nathaniel, sir—my Lord, I mean.’ ‘Nathaniel Daniel, or Daniel Nathaniel?’ ‘No, my Lord, only Nathaniel —not Daniel at all.’ ‘What did you tell me it was Daniel for, then, sir?’ inquired the judge.

   • 2010 Sophie Hannah, A Room Swept White, Hodder & Stoughton, →ISBN, page 102:

     Marcella and Nathaniel. Now I know their names. I haven't thought much about having children, but if I did, I wouldn't give them names like that. They're the sort of names you choose if you think you're someone to be reckoned with.

Related terms

• Nathanael
• Nathan
• Nat
• Nate

Translations

transliteration of the name

• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Italian: Nataniele m

cognate of the name — see Nathanael

Further reading

• Nathaniel on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Nathanael (follower of Jesus) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia