Daniel means God is my judge, and Daniel lived as if that were true. Carried captive to Babylon as a youth, he refused to defile himself with the king's food, interpreted dreams no one else could, and rose to serve four kings — yet when a law forbade prayer, he simply opened his windows toward Jerusalem and prayed as he always had.
For that he was thrown to the lions, and God shut the lions' mouths. His visions of the four kingdoms and the Son of man coming with the clouds of heaven shape the Bible's hope. He is called, three times, a man greatly beloved.
Daniel is a timeless favourite the world over — steady, faithful, and warmly shortened to Dan or Danny.
Variants & nicknames
Dan, Danny, Daniyel
Daniel in the Bible
Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.