Nathanel

Nathanel is a masculine given name of Hebrew origin. It derives from the element Netan'el, meaning "God has given" or "God's gift." The name has appeared in Jewish and Christian usage for centuries and has multiple spellings, including Nathanael, Netanel, Nathaniel, and Nathanel.

In the Hebrew Bible, the name appears in various forms as Netanel or Nethaneel, used for several figures in different books. In the New Testament, Nathanael (often rendered Nathanel in some translations) is described as a disciple of Jesus in the Gospel of John. According to John 1:43-51, Nathanael, from Cana in Galilee, is brought to Jesus by Philip. He initially questions whether anything good can come from Nazareth, but Jesus tells him that He saw him under the fig tree. Nathanael replies, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel," and Jesus affirms that Nathanael will see greater things.

Modern usage remains in Hebrew-speaking communities and in English-speaking countries as an alternate transliteration of Nathaniel. It is less common than the more standardized Nathaniel, but it continues to appear in various cultural and religious contexts.

Notable bearers of the name span religious, historical, and contemporary contexts, reflecting the name’s long-standing presence across cultures. Variants and related forms include Netanel and Nathaniel, among others.