Daniel Name Meaning, Origin and Pronunciation

ByNamelyra Editorial Team

Daniel is a Hebrew-origin boy’s name meaning “God is my judge,” from the Hebrew phrase Dani El.
Meaning God is my judge
Origin Hebrew (Dani El)
Pronunciation DAN-yuhl
Gender Boy
Related forms Danilo, Daniele (Italian form), Danya (Slavic form)

Origin and history

Daniel comes directly from a Hebrew phrase, Dani El, meaning God is my judge. The name is best known from the Biblical Book of Daniel, whose central figure survives being thrown into a den of lions through his faith, a story that has kept the name in continuous, widespread use across Jewish, Christian, and Islamic naming traditions for centuries. Its short, stable spelling has stayed remarkably consistent across most languages that adopted it.

Is Daniel a boy or girl name?

Daniel is used almost exclusively as a boy’s name.

Nicknames for Daniel

  • Dan
  • Danny

Names similar to Daniel

  • Danilo (a Slavic and Italian form)
  • Daniele (the Italian form)
  • Danya (a Slavic diminutive)

Frequently asked questions

Is Daniel a Biblical name?

Yes, directly. It’s the name of the prophet Daniel in the Hebrew Bible, best known for the story of Daniel in the lions’ den.

Why has Daniel stayed so consistently spelled across languages?

Unlike names such as Michael or John, which developed many distinct-looking regional forms, Daniel’s Hebrew phrase translated cleanly into most languages without needing major phonetic adaptation, so the spelling has stayed close to the original across English, Spanish, Italian, and several other languages.

Is Daniel still a commonly given name today?

Yes, it has remained one of the most consistently used boys’ names across English-speaking countries for generations.

Related reading

Related culture pages: Biblical boy names, Hebrew and Jewish names. Parent hub: name meanings.