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Danielle Name Meaning: Origin, Popularity, & Nicknames

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Danielle Overview

  • Meaning: Danielle means “God is my judge” and “loved by God” in Hebrew.
  • Gender: Danielle is a girl’s name, rarely used for boys.
  • Origin: Danielle is the French female version of the Latin Daniela. It originated from the Hebrew Daniyyel, an Old Testament figure who influenced the modern-day Daniel.
  • Pronunciation: Danielle is pronounced “Daen-YEHL” (English) and “DA-NYEHL” (French).
  • Popularity: Danielle was the most popular in the U.S. from the 1960s to the 1990s and peaked at 14th for girls in 1987. It currently ranks 442nd among U.S. girls’ names.
  • Nicknames: Dana, Danette, Dani, Dania, Danita, Danka, Danna, Danni, Dannie, Danny, Dany, Daša, Dell, Della, El, Ellie, Elly, Nelia, Nella.
  • Variations: Daenian, Daniele, Danielė, Danièle, Daniélín, Daniella, Daniëlle, Danijela, Dannielle, Dānnīěr, Danyel, Danyell, Danyelle, Ḍēniyal.
  • Namesakes: Danielle Riley Keough, American actress appearing in “The Runaways” (2010). Danielle Steel, American romance novel writer with 800 million copies sold.

What Does Danielle Mean?

Danielle is the French variation of Daniel, though the Latin equivalent of Daniel is Daniela. Both originated from the Hebrew “daniy’el,” which means “God is my judge.” It’s inspired by the biblical figure Daniel, whose name also means “loved by God.” Though not a direct meaning, Danielle is often associated with images of lions and angels.

What is the Origin of the Name Danielle?

As the female version of the original Hebrew Daniyyel, Danielle dates back to Daniel in the Old Testament. In the Bible, Daniel was captured by Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon and is known for being wise, bold, and just. The French variation, Danielle, grew popular in France in the early 20th-century. Danielle spread to the U.S. and the rest of the world during this time.

How Popular Is the Name Danielle?

In the U.S., Danielle was the most popular for girls from the 1960s to the 1990s. It stayed in the top 100 names through 2004 and peaked at 14th in 1987 in the U.S. Danielle, more recently ranked 442nd for American girl names, so it is still considered popular. Danielle is rarer for boys, ranking 940th for American boys when it peaked in 1987 through 1989.

How Do I Pronounce Danielle?

In both English and French, Danielle is pronounced “Daen-YEHL.”

Is Danielle a Boy or Girl Name?

Danielle is mainly used for girls and is considered quite uncommon for boys. The male equivalent, Daniel, is overwhelmingly chosen over Danielle for boys and recently ranked 16th in the U.S.

Variations of Danielle

These fun variations of Danielle offer different looks for the Danielle you’re expecting.

  • Daenian (Thai)
  • Daniele (Italian)
  • Danièle (French)
  • Danielė (Lithuanian)
  • Daniélín (Irish)
  • Daniella (English)
  • Daniella (Hungarian)
  • Daniëlle (Dutch)
  • Danijela (Serbo-Croatian)
  • Dannielle (English)
  • Dannielle (English)
  • Dānnīěr (Chinese)
  • Danyel (English)
  • Danyell (English)
  • Danyelle (English)
  • Ḍēniyal (Indian)

Nicknames for Danielle

Find the best short form of Danielle here, ranging from the traditional to the unexpected.

  • Dana
  • Danette
  • Dani
  • Dania
  • Danita
  • Danka
  • Danna
  • Danni
  • Dannie
  • Danny
  • Dany
  • Daša
  • Dell
  • Della
  • El
  • Ellie
  • Elly
  • Nelia
  • Nella

Similar Names to Danielle

If you like Danielle but want a name that sounds similar, this list is for you!

  • Amelie
  • Dahlia
  • Danika
  • Danique
  • Darlene
  • Delaney
  • Dominique
  • Gabrielle
  • Gisele
  • Juliette
  • Justine
  • Lucienne
  • Manuela
  • Marielle
  • Michelle
  • Mirabel
  • Nell
  • Nicola
  • Noelle
  • Simone

Middle Names for Danielle

These unique middle names can help make Danielle feel like an extraordinary young lady.

  • Beatrix
  • Elise
  • Eve
  • Faith
  • Faye
  • Grace
  • Harper
  • Jade
  • Jane
  • Jo
  • Louise
  • Lucy
  • Luz
  • Lynn
  • Pearl
  • Rae
  • Rain
  • Soleil
  • Sophia
  • Stella

Sibling Names for Danielle

Every Danielle needs a sister or brother with the most complementary name ever.

  • Aidan
  • Claude
  • Denise
  • Florian
  • Frederick
  • Genevieve
  • Henrietta
  • Jacqueline
  • Joelle
  • Leo
  • Louise
  • Martina
  • Natalie
  • Nicholas
  • Oliver
  • Patrice
  • Quinn
  • Raphael
  • Shauna
  • Travis

Famous People Named Danielle

Notoriety and fame have followed these people named Danielle from around the world.

  • Danielle Andersen: American professional poker player.
  • Danielle Arbid: Lebanese film director.
  • Danielle Brooks: American actress and singer.
  • Danielle Bunten Berry: American videogame designer.
  • Danielle Dax: English musician.
  • Danielle de Niese: Australian-American opera singer.
  • Danielle Frenkel: Israeli high jumper.
  • Danielle Hunter: American football player
  • Danielle Licari: French singer.
  • Danielle McCann: Canadian politician.
  • Danielle Page: Serbian-American basketball player.
  • Danielle Renfrew: American film producer.
  • Danielle Rowe: Australian ballet dancer and choreographer.
  • Danielle Rowley: Scottish politician.
  • Danielle Scott-Arruda: Brazilian-American volleyball player.
  • Danielle Smith: Canadian politician.
  • Danielle Spencer: American actress.
  • Danielle Steers: English stage actress.
  • Danielle Stevenson: American singer-songwriter.
  • Danielle Trzcinski: American actress and comedian.

Danielle in Popular Culture

Check out these instances of Danielle in popular culture, which cover music, film, TV, and video games.

  • Danielle Andropoulos: Teenage character appearing on the 1970s soap opera “As the World Turns.”
  • Danielle Bowden: Character played by Juliette Lewis in the 1991 remake of “Cape Fear.”
  • Danielle Jones: Character on the British soap opera “EastEnders.”
  • Danielle Moonstar: Character appearing in the 1982 Marvel Comic “The New Mutants.”
  • Danielle Rousseau: Character in the American TV series “Lost.”

Danielle FAQs

Be even more of an expert in “all-things” Danielle-related with our additional questions and answers here.

What Is the Symbol for Danielle?

Because Danielle is the French female form of Daniel, it’s linked to the biblical Daniel. Danielle is associated with lions and angels due to the biblical story of Daniel, who miraculously survived being thrown into a lion’s den. Danielle is considered a strong and spiritual name for girls that can easily be shortened to Dani.

What Does Danielle Mean in the Bible?

Like Daniela and Daniel, Danielle means “God is my judge” in Hebrew and originated in France.

In the Bible, the figure of Daniel becomes an interpreter of dreams known for his integrity, humility, and commitment to God. The story of Daniel and the Lion’s Den represents spiritual loyalty and staying true to oneself.

How Do You Say Danielle in Gaelic?

The Gaelic-Irish variation of Danielle appears as Daniélín. Just like the many spelling variations of Danielle and the male Daniel in Hebrew, it means “God is my judge.” It also means “keyring” in Gaelic. In the Irish language, Daniélín is pronounced “Daan-yeh-LEEN.” Unique nicknames for Daniélín could range from Danie to Elin.

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About the Author

Maryana Vestic

Maryana Vestic is a Brooklyn-based writer, editor, and food photographer with a background in entertainment Business Affairs. She studied film at NYU, Irish Theatre Studies at Trinity College Dublin, and has an MFA in Creative Writing Nonfiction from The New School. She loves cooking, baking, hiking, and horror films, as well as running a local baking business in Brooklyn with her boyfriend.