UK boy's name
Daniel
A masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my judge".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Daniel is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Daniel popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #59, with 877 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 10,338 births.
This profile covers 120,900 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 8% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 143,441 living people in the UK are called Daniel. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Daniel ranked #59 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 877 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 10,338 boys were registered as Daniel.
- • Daniel ranks best in North East in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #1 in 2011.
- • About 143,441 living people in the UK are estimated to have Daniel as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#59
2024
Births in 2024
877
Latest year
Peak year
1996
10,338 births
Estimated living
143,441
2026
Meaning
What does Daniel mean?
The name Daniel has its origins in the Hebrew language and culture, dating back to ancient times. It is derived from the Hebrew name "Daniyyel," which means "God is my judge" or "God has judged." The name is first mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the Book of Daniel, which tells the story of a young Jewish man named Daniel who was taken captive to Babylon in the 6th century BC.
Daniel is a prominent figure in the Bible, known for his faith and wisdom. The Book of Daniel recounts his ability to interpret dreams and visions, as well as his survival in the lions' den after refusing to worship the Babylonian king. The name Daniel became popular among Jews and later among Christians, who revered the biblical figure.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Daniel dates back to the 3rd century BC, when it was found on an inscription from ancient Israel. In the New Testament, the name is mentioned as belonging to one of the sons of David, the celebrated king of ancient Israel.
Throughout history, there have been many notable individuals named Daniel. Some of the most famous include:
1. Daniel, the biblical prophet from the 6th century BC, as mentioned earlier. 2. Daniel Defoe (1660-1731), the English writer best known for his novel "Robinson Crusoe." 3. Daniel Boone (1734-1820), the American pioneer and explorer who blazed trails through the wilderness of Kentucky and Missouri. 4. Daniel Webster (1782-1852), the renowned American statesman, lawyer, and orator who served as a U.S. Senator and Secretary of State. 5. Daniel Day-Lewis (born 1957), the British actor widely regarded as one of the greatest of his generation, known for his roles in films such as "There Will Be Blood" and "Lincoln."
The name Daniel has endured across cultures and religions, remaining a popular choice for parents throughout the centuries. Its biblical origins and association with the virtues of faith, wisdom, and perseverance have contributed to its longevity and appeal.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Daniel over time
The chart below shows babies named Daniel registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Daniel, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 877 births in 2024, compared with 10,338 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Daniel by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Daniel was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #55 | 5,210 | 5 |
| 2010s | #25 | 27,607 | 10 |
| 2000s | #6 | 54,031 | 10 |
| 1990s | #4 | 34,052 | 4 |
Geography
Where Daniel is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Daniel. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Daniel ranks best in North East in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #1 in 2011.
Across the UK
Daniel in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#52 in 2024
51 years of NRS records, 18,726 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#37 in 2024
28 years of NISRA records, 5,236 total registered
Related
Names similar to Daniel
- Dylan 60,836
- David 37,852
- Dominic 20,480
- Declan 11,657
- Dexter 11,627
- Danny 8,434
- Dean 5,329
- Dillon 4,113
- Douglas 3,773
- Dominik 3,494
- Damian 3,486
- Drew 3,303
FAQ
Daniel: questions and answers
How popular is the name Daniel in the UK right now?
In 2024, Daniel was ranked #59 for boys in England and Wales, with 877 births registered.
When was Daniel most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 10,338 babies registered as Daniel in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Daniel?
A masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my judge".
How many people are called Daniel in the UK?
A total of 120,900 babies have been registered as Daniel across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 18,726 more in Scotland and 5,236 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Daniel most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Daniel ranks best in North East, where it placed #1 in 2011. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.