Daniel (English)

Where does "Daniel" come from?

The name Daniel originates from the Hebrew 'daniyél,' a meaningful phrase translating to 'God is my judge.' It transitioned into the English language through Ancient Greek and Middle English, eventually becoming a popular given name and surname. This biblical name has endured for centuries, reflecting its ancient roots as a title for the prophet featured in the Old Testament.

Full etymology tree

• Daniel (English), 'A book in the Old Testament of the Bible.'
  • inherited Daniel (Middle English)
    • borrowed Δᾱνῑήλ (Dānīḗl) (Ancient Greek)
      • borrowed דָּנִיֵּאל (Dāniyyêl) (Biblical Hebrew)
        • compound דָּן (dan) (Biblical Hebrew)
        • compound ־י (-i) (Biblical Hebrew)
        • compound אֵל (el) (Biblical Hebrew)

Direct ancestors

• Δανιήλ (Ancient Greek)

Updated June 2026

Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris