Nathanael

Nathanael is a masculine given name of Hebrew origin, derived from Netan'el, meaning "God has given." The form Nathanael is one of several English renderings of the name; English usage often favors Nathaniel, while Nathanael preserves a closer transliteration of the Hebrew. Variants occur in other languages, such as Nathanaël in French and Nathanel in some transliterations.

In the Christian biblical tradition, Nathanael appears in the Gospel of John (chapter 1). He is described as being from Cana in Galilee and is initially skeptical about Jesus, asking, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Jesus replies with a positive assessment, calling him an Israelite without deceit, and Nathanael responds with a confession of faith, acknowledging Jesus as the Son of God and the King of Israel. In the synoptic gospels, the disciple Bartholomew is listed among the Twelve, and some traditions identify Nathanael with Bartholomew, though this identification is not explicit in the New Testament and remains a matter of interpretation.

Notable individuals bearing the name include Nathanael Greene (1742–1786), a general in the American Revolutionary War; Nathanael West (1898–1940), an American novelist and screenwriter; and Nathanael Emmons (1745–1840), an American theologian. The name has been used across various Christian communities and has continued to appear in literature and public life, with its usage varying by region and historical period.