Ariel
Ariel is a given name from Biblical Hebrew אריאל Ariel that literally means "lion of God". The female form is אריאלה. In modern Hebrew, Ariel is primarily used as a male name.
- Hebrew
- English
- French
- Spanish
Meaning & Origin of Ariel
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Ariel is a given name from Biblical Hebrew אריאל Ariel that literally means "lion of God". The female form is אריאלה. In modern Hebrew, Ariel is primarily used as a male name.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- Hebrew
- English
- French
- Spanish
- Polish
- Biblical
- Biblical Greek
- Biblical Hebrew
The Story of Ariel
As a girl name
American parents first put Ariel on the record books as a girl name in 1892, with 5 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 1991, when 5,411 Ariels were born — ranking #66 that year. About 35% of every Ariel on record arrived during the 1990s, its defining decade. As of 2026, Ariel ranks #326 for girls with 952 births, falling sharply (-36%). All told, over 80K Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1890s to the 2020s.
As a boy name
The earliest SSA record of Ariel as a boy name dates back to 1913, when 5 babies received it. 1991 was its biggest year on record, with 666 newborns named Ariel — #360 in the national rankings. About 21% of every Ariel on record arrived during the 1990s, its defining decade. As of 2026, Ariel ranks #504 for boys with 610 births, gradually rising (+12%). All told, over 23K Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1910s to the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Ariel
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Ariel. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Names that sound like Ariel
Phonetically similar names — useful when Ariel is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ariel
What does the name Ariel mean?
What is the origin of the name Ariel?
How popular is Ariel in 2026?
When was Ariel most popular?
In which U.S. states is Ariel most popular?
Is Ariel a unisex name?
What names go well with Ariel?
What are nicknames or variants of Ariel?
About the name Ariel
Ariel is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1892 and has accumulated 80K births in the dataset. Ariel's peak popularity came in 1991 when it ranked #66. Use the chart and map above to compare Ariel's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1991 →
- Names of the 1990s →
- Names starting with "A" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.