History and Origin of the Boy’s Name Daniel

Daniel is common male name in England, discover why this name has been so popular over the centuries from the biblical story of Daniel and the Lions to the modern day Daniel Radcliffe (from Harry Potter).

Daniel name meaning and origin

The first known use of the name Daniel was Hebrew in origin and means “God is my judge” in Hebrew. The name can be found numerous times throughout the Old and New Testaments.

Popularity

According to the latest statistics from the Office of National Statistics the name Daniel was the 16th most popular name given to boys in England in 2012, however the name was particularly popular between the 1940’s and the 1980’s.

Famous People Called Daniel

The Daniel’s popularity might fluctuate over time, but it persists in our culture. Several famous people bear the name including Daniel Radcliffe, star of the Harry Potter films, Daniel Craig, the latest actor to play legendary British secret agent, James Bond, Daniel Mendoza, English world champion hall of fame heavy weight boxer, and Daniel Sturridge, an English association football player. There are many more famous Daniel’s that can be found as well. Statistics show that the popularity of the name is once again on the rise and any child given the name is sure to be in great company.

Useful Resources

• Our comprehensive list of English boys names.
• Expecting a baby? Get huge offers on baby product.