How exciting, you’re having a baby boy- congratulations! You’ve got your hearts set on the name Nathaniel, but what about his middle name?
In this article, we will be covering 135 of the best middle names for Nathaniel. We have put together some of our favorite middle names that span both traditional and unique options.
In this article
- What Does The Name Nathaniel Mean
- Best Middle Names for Nathaniel
- Why You Need A Middle Name
- Finding The Right Middle Name
- Where To Look For Inspiration
- What To Be Careful Of When Choosing The Perfect Middle Name
- Different Ways To Spell Nathaniel
- Cute Sibling Names That Go Perfectly With Nathaniel
- Nicknames for Nathaniel
- The Final Thought
What Does The Name Nathaniel Mean
Although in more recent years the variation “Nathan” has become more popular, Nathaniel is definitely much more distinctive and appealing. The name is originally derived from Hebrew, meaning “gift of God” which is perfect for your baby.
The name is featured several times in the Old and New Testaments with a slight variation on the spelling which we will look at later.
Best Middle Names for Nathaniel
- Nathaniel Alexander
- Nathaniel Archer
- Nathaniel Arlo
- Nathaniel Arrow
- Nathaniel Ashton
- Nathaniel Atticus
- Nathaniel Avery
- Nathaniel Banks
- Nathaniel Barrett
- Nathaniel Bates
- Nathaniel Bennett
- Nathaniel Bentley
- Nathaniel Blake
- Nathaniel Boden
- Nathaniel Brady
- Nathaniel Brant
- Nathaniel Braxton
- Nathaniel Brenner
- Nathaniel Brent
- Nathaniel Bridge
- Nathaniel Briggs
- Nathaniel Brodey
- Nathaniel Brooks
- Nathaniel Caleb
- Nathaniel Cameron
- Nathaniel Cannon
- Nathaniel Carson
- Nathaniel Carter
- Nathaniel Cason
- Nathaniel Chase
- Nathaniel Clay
- Nathaniel Colton
- Nathaniel Connor
- Nathaniel Cooper
- Nathaniel Dakota
- Nathanial Dallas
- Nathaniel Dalton
- Nathaniel Damien
- Nathaniel Damon
- Nathaniel Daniel
- Nathaniel David
- Nathaniel Dayton
- Nathaniel Deacon
- Nathaniel Dixon
- Nathaniel Drake
- Nathaniel Duke
- Nathaniel Duncan
- Nathaniel Dylan
- Nathaniel Easton
- Nathaniel Edison
- Nathaniel Elijah
- Nathaniel Emmerson
- Nathaniel Emmett
- Nathaniel Everest
- Nathaniel Falcon
- Nathaniel Felix
- Nathaniel Fielder
- Nathaniel Finnegan
- Nathaniel Ford
- Nathaniel Forest
- Nathaniel Forrester
- Nathaniel Gabriel
- Nathaniel Gage
- Nathaniel Garland
- Nathaniel Garrett
- Nathaniel Garrison
- Nathaniel Gatlin
- Nathaniel Gentry
- Nathaniel Grady
- Nathaniel Graham
- Nathaniel Granger
- Nathaniel Grant
- Nathaniel Gray
- Nathaniel Grayson
- Nathaniel Hamilton
- Nathaniel Harlan
- Nathaniel Harrison
- Nathaniel Hawk
- Nathaniel Hayden
- Nathaniel Hayes
- Nathaniel Hendrix
- Nathaniel Henry
- Nathaniel Holden
- Nathaniel Holt
- Nathaniel Huck
- Nathaniel Hudson
- Nathaniel Hunter
- Nathaniel Hutton
- Nathaniel Hyde
- Nathaniel Jack
- Nathaniel Jackson
- Nathaniel James
- Nathaniel Jayden
- Nathaniel Jett
- Nathaniel Jonah
- Nathaniel Joshua
- Nathaniel Judd
- Nathaniel Jude
- Nathaniel Judson
- Nathaniel Julien
- Nathaniel Kane
- Nathaniel Kennedy
- Nathaniel Kent
- Nathaniel Kingston
- Nathaniel Knox
- Nathaniel Lawson
- Nathaniel Ledger
- Nathaniel Lincoln
- Nathaniel Madden
- Nathaniel Maddox
- Nathaniel Mason
- Nathaniel Mateo
- Nathaniel Maverick
- Nathaniel Merritt
- Nathaniel Miller
- Nathaniel Nash
- Nathaniel Noah
- Nathaniel Oakley
- Nathaniel Oliver
- Nathaniel Parker
- Nathaniel Patton
- Nathaniel Quinn
- Nathaniel Radley
- Nathaniel Ranger
- Nathaniel Robert
- Nathaniel Sawyer
- Nathaniel Shane
- Nathaniel Spencer
- Nathaniel Stone
- Nathaniel Sullivan
- Nathaniel Thomas
- Nathaniel Travis
- Nathaniel Wade
- Nathaniel Weston
- Nathaniel Wilder
- Nathaniel Wyatt
Why You Need A Middle Name
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There are a few different reasons why parents feel that their children need to have a middle name. Here are a few for you to consider if you are still on the fence about whether Nathaniel really needs a middle name or not.
To Set Them Apart
Yes, that’s right giving your baby a middle name can help to distinguish them from other children with the same name in their class. But with that said this will not always apply and depends very much on whether your baby boy has a super popular name or something a little more unique.
Middle Name Equals Better Behavior
We all remember as children when our parents used our full name that we were in big trouble. It is a common parenting hack to use your children’s full name when telling them off and there is actually research that has proved it improves children’s behavior.
Being reminded of your middle name actually leads to an increase in good behavior.
Alternative Name Option
Every parent hopes that their children love the name we choose for them but it’s not always the case despite our best intentions.
So in cases such as this by providing your little one with a middle name gives them the option of using it as an alternative to their first name.
Finding The Right Middle Name
For some parents finding the right middle name is just as important as finding the first name.
While other parents allow themselves to have a little more fun when choosing a middle name as they feel they are slightly less important as it is not the name the child will use every day.
But with that said, don’t let the wrong middle name take away from all your hard work finding the perfect first name for your little one.
If you really fancy a challenge, you could opt for two middle names. You’re only legally required to have a first name and a surname on your birth certificates in the US. Anything after that is simply down to personal choice.
Where To Look For Inspiration
As it’s been said most people do not use their middle name on a daily basis so you can take a step away from the more traditional names and opt for something that is a little more weird and wacky.
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Here are a few ideas of where to look for some inspiration for that middle name if you are struggling.
Family Tradition
The most common place to start for most people is with their own family. Many families have a tradition of passing down a middle name from one generation to another or choosing a middle name that begins with a certain letter.
While you may decide on a middle name to honor a relative. This could be a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or even a maiden name.
Take a good look into your family history and you’re sure to find a name that is perfect for your child and connects them to their family heritage, even before they are old enough to understand the connection.
Maybe you have some European heritage that you would like to honor, if so why not check out our European Boys Names for some more inspiration.
Two Is Better Than One
Maybe you and your partner had a first name choice that was pipped at the post for a variety of reasons.
The middle name may be a way to use that second place first name in your baby’s full name as their middle name. As most first names also make great middle names, there’s nothing to worry about.
Memories Or Place Names
Celebrities are not the only people who can use place names for their children’s names. They are actually very trendy at the moment.
So if you and your partner have a special place that holds some fond memories or a favorite destination, go for it.
What To Be Careful Of When Choosing The Perfect Middle Name
Middle names are an opportunity to be a little wilder and daring with your children’s names. After all, it is not the name they will be using every day.
This is why you often find people with some weird and wonderful middle names that their parents just couldn’t let go of but also couldn’t justify as a first name. There are a few things that you need to consider when choosing the perfect middle name.
Potential For An Unfortunate Nickname
You need to put yourself into the mind of a child and think as they do. If you can think up some cruel and not very nice names to tease your child, then you can bet that any child in the playground can too.
Initials
Remember that your children’s initials will often be written down on display so you need to ensure that they do not spell out any unfortunate words.
With Nathaniel as a first name, there is always the chance that their initials could potentially spell out some less than desirable words.
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Flow Of Entire Name
When you decide on the perfect first name, along with an awesome middle name, and of course you already know the surname, you need to check that it all flows together and is not too clunky when you say it out loud.
If you have any doubts get a second opinion from family and friends and say the full name in conversation.
If the name sounds clunky or you are tripping over your words, there’s a pretty good chance that it is not the right combination of names.
Different Ways To Spell Nathaniel
There are very few alternate spellings of Nathaniel, but here are the few that we could find:
- Nathaniael
- Nathaniail
- Nathaniayl
Cute Sibling Names That Go Perfectly With Nathaniel
If you have more than one child or plan on having anymore, finding names that go well together is another important factor that you may need to consider.
Remember that you will probably say your little one’s name a million times together so it is important that they flow well. Here are a few suggestions for sibling names that work well with Nathaniel.
- Nathaniel and Rebecca
- Nathaniel and Arabella
- Nathaniel and Jessie
- Nathaniel and Gemma
- Nathaniel and Grace
- Nathaniel and Zachary
- Nathaniel and Thomas
- Nathaniel and Josiah
- Nathaniel and Jackson
- Nathaniel and Matthew
Nicknames for Nathaniel
Many people find that nicknames often come naturally as their little one grows older and you learn more about their character, but here are some options for nicknames that can also be used for names similar to Nathaniel.
- Nat
- Nate
- Nath
- Natty
- Thanny
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The Final Thought
We hope you’ve managed to find the perfect middle name to go with Nathaniel. From traditional to unique we have provided a range of different middle name options. Trust your gut, when you’ve found the right name combination for him – you will definitely know!
But if you are still looking for inspiration then why not check out some of our Best Rock Names or Fantastic Bird Names.
