Daniel

Boys

Best rank #5 (2008) · ranked in 18 years

Ranked in 18 years, Daniel reached its best position of #5 in 2008.

It eased from #5 in 2008 to #32 in 2025.

The latest tally (2025) puts Daniel at #32.

19,082 newborns received the name Daniel in 2008, its peak year.

Daniel was most popular around 2008, making it characteristic of the 2000s generation.

Rank by year

11020200820172025
  1. 2025328,093
  2. 2024258,436
  3. 2023268,421
  4. 2022239,132
  5. 2021279,174
  6. 2020239,549
  7. 20192510,609
  8. 20182311,315
  9. 20172311,772
  10. 20162013,021
  11. 20152013,563
  12. 20141613,986
  13. 20131514,355
  14. 20121614,323
  15. 20111515,332
  16. 20101215,899
  17. 20091017,604
  18. 2008519,082

Similar names

If Daniel is on your shortlist, David, Dylan, Destiny are worth a look too, given the similar sound and comparable popularity trends.

Where Daniel is most popular

In 2025, Daniel was recorded in 49 of the 51 US jurisdictions the SSA reports on, with 8,071 births nationwide.

The largest share came from California at 1,145 births, 14.2% of the national total, where it ranked #29 that year.

By census region the name skews South, which accounts for 39.2% of Daniel births, against 16.9% Northeast, 17.1% Midwest, 26.8% West.

State rankings spread more than the national figure suggests: Daniel placed as high as #18 in Washington and as low as #119 in Maine.

The 2 jurisdictions without a figure are not zeros. SSA withholds any name with fewer than 5 occurrences in a given state and year to protect privacy.

Top states, 2025

  1. 1California1,145 · #29 there
  2. 2Texas976 · #30 there
  3. 3Florida494 · #36 there
  4. 4New York478 · #28 there
  5. 5Pennsylvania322 · #28 there

Share by census region

  • Northeast16.9%
  • Midwest17.1%
  • South39.2%
  • West26.8%

Shares are of this name's national total, not of each state's births. SSA withholds any name under 5 occurrences per state and year. Browse all states

Frequently asked questions

Is Daniel a popular name?
Daniel reached a best rank of #5 in 2008 and has charted in 18 years.
Where does Daniel rank now?
In the most recent data (2025), Daniel ranks #32.
Is Daniel a boy or girl name?
It is recorded primarily as a boys' name.
When was Daniel most popular?
Daniel peaked around 2008.

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Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) - Popular Baby Names (national)