Ariel: Meaning, origin and popularity
Pronounced AIR-ee-uhl · 3 syllables
Ariel means “lion; God”, from Hebrew.
From Biblical Hebrew (ari'el, a compound of (ari, “lion”) + (el, “God”), literally “lion of God”). * (moon of Uranus): All of Uranus’s moons are named after characters created by William Shakespeare or Alexander Pope.
- Meaning
- lion; God
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- AIR-ee-uhl
- US rank (2025)
- #355
- US babies a year
- about 1,686 (2021–2025)
- Peak
- around 1990
- Style
- Biblical, Literary
How popular is Ariel?
Ariel was the #355 name in the US in 2025, given to 1,384 babies. It’s used less than it was: down 30% on 2011–2015. It peaked around 1990.
Around the world
| Country | Rank |
|---|---|
| United States | #355 |
| England & Wales | #710 |
| Scotland | #636 |
| Ireland | #780 |
| France | #602 |
| Norway | #189 |
| Canada | #255 |
| Australia | #337 |
How old are people named Ariel?
Half of US adults named Ariel are older than 32; most are between 19 and 46. (Estimated from US births by year and life tables.)
Sibling names for Ariel
Names that real brothers and sisters of people named Ariel have, from family records on Wikidata, most common first.
- Dina
- Shanelle
- Avi
- Adi
- Clementine
- Alex
- Axel
Names like Ariel
Chosen by the same families or with a similar style and era.
On these lists
Questions about Ariel
What does the name Ariel mean?
Ariel means “lion; God”. It comes from Hebrew.
How do you pronounce Ariel?
Ariel is pronounced AIR-ee-uhl.
How popular is the name Ariel?
Ariel was the #355 name in the US in 2025, given to 1,384 babies. It’s used less than it was: down 30% on 2011–2015. It peaked around 1990.
How old are people named Ariel?
Half of US adults named Ariel are older than 32. Most are between 19 and 46.