Unisex name · Hebrew
Ariel
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: lion of GodAriel is a gender-neutral name that comes from Hebrew and means "lion of God". It is used in Hebrew, Spanish and English.
- Meaning
- Lion of God
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Gender
- Unisex
- US rank
- #356 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Ariel
As a boy's name, Ariel comes from Hebrew and means "lion of God". It is used in Hebrew, Spanish and English.
As a gender-neutral name, Ariel comes from Hebrew and means "lion of God". It is used in Hebrew, English and Spanish.
In Spanish, say ah-RYEL. Respellings are a guide; accents vary by region.
Meaning checked against Behind the Name. How we research names
Ariel on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Ariel on 4 lists.
“Lion of God; Hebrew. Poetic name for Jerusalem, Isaiah 29”
From Biblical names, names that honor God
“Lion of God; Hebrew, also a spirit in Shakespeare's Tempest”
From Gender neutral names, gender-neutral Hebrew names
“Lion of God; Hebrew. Say ah-RYEL”
From Mexican boy names, mexican boy names from the Bible
“For a little mermaid who dreams of land”
From Axolotl names, girl and boy axolotl names
How popular is Ariel?
In 2025, 851 girls and 533 boys in the US were named Ariel.
As a girl’s name
- US rank in 2025
- #356
- 851 babies, 529 per million girls
- Best rank
- #66 in 1991
- 5,411 babies that year
- Babies since 1892
- At least 78,697
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 7 per million |
| 1900s | 18 per million |
| 1910s | 19 per million |
| 1920s | 11 per million |
| 1930s | 8 per million |
| 1940s | 6 per million |
| 1950s | 3 per million |
| 1960s | 8 per million |
| 1970s | 46 per million |
| 1980s | 370 per million |
| 1990s | 1,563 per million |
| 2000s | 880 per million |
| 2010s | 1,107 per million |
| 2020s | 732 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #140 | #142 | #154 | #172 | #200 | #220 | #236 | #287 | #300 | #356 |
As a boy’s name
- US rank in 2025
- #558
- 533 babies, 312 per million boys
- Best rank
- #360 in 1991
- 666 babies that year
- Babies since 1913
- At least 21,968
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 0 per million |
| 1910s | 7 per million |
| 1920s | 7 per million |
| 1930s | 5 per million |
| 1940s | 3 per million |
| 1950s | 6 per million |
| 1960s | 23 per million |
| 1970s | 90 per million |
| 1980s | 161 per million |
| 1990s | 239 per million |
| 2000s | 225 per million |
| 2010s | 231 per million |
| 2020s | 311 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #499 | #488 | #584 | #551 | #565 | #557 | #569 | #521 | #509 | #558 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Other forms of Ariel
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
Names spelled like Ariel
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- AdrielFlock of God (Hebrew, boy)
- ArmelBear prince (Old Welsh, boy)
- AzielPossibly God comforts (Hebrew, boy)
- AzrielMy help is God (Hebrew, boy)
- AxelMy father is peace (Hebrew, boy)
- AbelBreath (Hebrew, boy)
- AdelJust, fair (Arabic, boy)
- AnselGod helmet (Germanic, boy)
- AresPerhaps from Greek words for bane, ruin, or male (Greek, boy)
Names with a similar meaning
Middle names for Ariel
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
More names from Hebrew
- AdamMan, humankind (Hebrew, boy)
- DavidBeloved one (Hebrew, boy)
- AnnaFavor, grace (Hebrew, girl)
- DanielGod is my judge (Hebrew, boy)
- EvaLiving, life (Hebrew, girl)
- MiriamForm of Mary, meaning uncertain; perhaps Egyptian beloved (Hebrew, girl)
- NoahRest, repose (Hebrew, boy)
- SarahPrincess, noblewoman (Hebrew, girl)
- EliasMy God is Yahweh (Hebrew, boy)
- GabrielGod is my strength (Hebrew, boy)
Ariel: common questions
What does the name Ariel mean?
Ariel comes from Hebrew and means "lion of God". It also has another origin: the same meaning in another language. Checked against Behind the Name.
Is Ariel a boy or girl name?
Ariel is used for both boys and girls. In 2025, 851 girls and 533 boys in the US were named Ariel, according to Social Security Administration data.
Where does the name Ariel come from?
Ariel comes from Hebrew and means "lion of God". Today it is used in Hebrew, Spanish and English.
How popular is the name Ariel?
Ariel ranked #356 in the US in 2025, with 851 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Ariel?
Forms of Ariel with the same meaning and origin include Ari (Hebrew), Ariella (English), Arielle (French) and Aryeh (Hebrew).
What middle names go with Ariel?
Middle names that flow well with Ariel include Briar, Daphne, Magnus, Niamh and Reese. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.