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)

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Proper noun

Nathaniel

1. A male given name from Hebrew.
   • c. 1590–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]:

     Nathaniel's coat, sir, was not fully made,
     And Gabriel's pumps were all unpink'd i' the heel.

   • 1836 March – 1837 October, Charles Dickens, chapter 34, in The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1837, →OCLC:

     ‘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

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 納撒尼爾／纳撒尼尔 (Nàsǎní'ěr)

• French: Nathaniel (fr) m
• Italian: Nataniele m

cognate of the name — see Nathanael

Further reading

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