Nathaniel \n(a)-tha-niel\ as a boy's name is pronounced na-THAN-yel. It is of Hebrew origin, and the meaning of Nathaniel is "God has given". Biblical: one of the 12 apostles, who was also called Bartholomew. Used by the Puritans. Author Nathaniel Hawthorne; musician Nat "King" Cole.

Nathaniel has 15 variant forms: Nat, Natanael, Nataniel, Nate, Nathan, Nathanael, Nathaneal, Nathanial, Nathanyal, Nathanyel, Natty, Nethanel, Nethaniel, Nethanyel and Thaniel.