# Daniel

/ˈdænjəɫ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/daniel
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. given name

noun · CEFR A1

a common first name for a man.

For teachers: a common male given name of Hebrew origin, meaning 'God is my judge'.

- My friend Daniel is coming over for dinner tonight.
- Daniel was the most popular name for newborn boys in several European countries during the late twentieth century.

### 2. biblical figure/book

noun · CEFR B2

a book in the Bible or the prophet the book is about.

For teachers: a book of the Old Testament and the Hebrew Tanakh, or the prophet whose life and visions it describes.

- The story of Daniel in the lions' den is very famous.
- The Book of Daniel contains both historical narrative and apocalyptic visions that have influenced Western literature for centuries.

### 3. a wise judge

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary

a person who is very wise and fair when making a judgment.

For teachers: an allusion to the biblical Daniel, referring to a person who shows great wisdom or insight in judgment.

- The young lawyer proved to be a second Daniel in the courtroom.
- The judge's ruling was so insightful that the local press described him as a Daniel come to judgment.

Usage: Often used in the phrase 'a Daniel come to judgment', famously quoted from Shakespeare.

## Examples

- My friend Daniel lives in London.
- The manager asked Daniel to lead the presentation because he has the most experience with the client.
- Historical records indicate that the name Daniel has maintained consistent popularity for centuries, appearing frequently in both religious texts and secular census data across Europe.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.