Natnael is a unique and distinctive name of Ethiopian origin. It is composed of two elements: "Nathanael" which means "God gives" in Hebrew, and "El" which signifies "God". Therefore, the overall meaning of Natnael is "Given by God".
The name has historical significance in Ethiopia where it was traditionally given to boys born around Christmas time. This practice was influenced by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church's celebration of the Feast of the Nativity on December 25th.
Natnael gained international recognition when it was chosen as the first name for the son of Emperor Haile Selassie I and his wife Empress Menen Asfaw in 1936. Their son, Prince Asfa Wossen, later became Emperor of Ethiopia himself.
While Natnael is not a common name outside of Ethiopia, it has a rich history and unique meaning that sets it apart from other names. It is often spelled differently depending on the language and culture, appearing as Nathanel in some languages or Nathanail in others. Despite these variations, its original Ethiopian spelling remains distinctive and meaningful.
The name Natnael has been given to a total of 367 babies born in the United States between the years 1991 and 2023. The popularity of this name has varied over time, with some years seeing more births than others.
The year with the highest number of births for the name Natnael was 2018, with a total of 23 babies born that year. This is followed by 2016 and 2014, each with 20 births. Interestingly, there were also two years (2000 and 2007) where the name Natnael was given to 16 babies.
On the other hand, some years saw very few births for this name. The lowest number of births occurred in 2023, with only 9 babies born that year. Other years with low birth counts include 1991 (5 births), 2010 and 2021 (each with 8 births), and several other years with fewer than 10 births.
Overall, the statistics show that while the name Natnael has not been extremely popular in the United States, it has still been chosen for a significant number of babies over the past three decades. Its popularity has fluctuated over time, but it remains a unique and distinct choice for parents looking to give their child an uncommon name.