Nathanael
The biblical Nathanael depicted in stained glass. | |
| Pronunciation | /nəˈθæniəl/ |
|---|---|
| Gender | Masculine |
| Origin | |
| Word/name | Hebrew |
| Meaning | "God has given" or "Gift of God" |
| Other names | |
| Nickname(s) | Nat, Nate |
| Related names | Jonathan, Nathan, Nathaniel, Elnathan |
Nathanael (Greek: Ναθαναήλ, Hebrew: נְתַנְאֵל, romanized: natan'el, lit. 'given by God') is an English name of Hebrew origin. It is of Biblical origin and holds significance for Jews and Christians. Several figures in both the Old and New Testament bear the name. Figures in the Old Testament, which is transliterated from Hebrew, have their names rendered as Nethanel in English whereas those in the New Testament, which is translated from Greek, have theirs rendered as Nathanael. Since the early 20th century, the most common English spelling is Nathaniel, a change likely influenced by the popularity of other Biblical names ending in -iel (e.g. Daniel, Gabriel, Uriel). Bearers may use the nicknames Nate or Nathan. The name and its derivatives may appear in patronymic surnames such as Nathanson and Barnathan.