Ariel

♂ Boy

Pronounced AIR-ee-el /ˈɛər.i.ɛl/High

Meaning: From Hebrew Ariel, composed of ari ('lion') and El ('God'), meaning 'lion of God'; used in the Bible as a name for Jerusalem and as a personal name; also the name of a spirit in Shakespeare's The TempestHigh

In 30 seconds: Ariel is a powerful Hebrew name meaning 'lion of God,' used for the city of Jerusalem, a Shakespearean spirit, and Disney's Little Mermaid. Listed here for boys, it carries full unisex legitimacy.

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Origin HighHebrew

MeaningFrom Hebrew Ariel, composed of ari ('lion') and El ('God'), meaning 'lion of God'; used in the Bible as a name for Jerusalem and as a personal name; also the name of a spirit in Shakespeare's The Tempest

U.S. rank (2025)#558 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births533 boys (0.03% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1991

Total births (all-time)≈ 21,963

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Ariel comes from Hebrew ari (lion) and El (God), meaning 'lion of God.' It appears in the Bible as a poetic name for Jerusalem (Isaiah 29) and as a personal name in Ezra and Chronicles. In Shakespeare's The Tempest (1611), Ariel is the spirit of air serving Prospero. The name has been used for both males and females throughout Jewish history.

In the United States, Ariel rose strongly after Disney's The Little Mermaid (1989) made it primarily a girls' name in American popular culture. However, for boys it has remained consistent in Jewish communities and in Israel, where it ranks highly for males. For boys it ranks in the top 300 in the U.S., with particular strength in Jewish and Hispanic communities. Both usages are historically and culturally legitimate.

Did you know? In the Book of Isaiah, Ariel is a poetic name for Jerusalem itself — 'Ariel, the city where David dwelt' — giving the name a unique distinction: it is both a personal name and a name for one of the holiest cities on Earth.

Overall data confidence 94%

Behind the Name — Ariel — etymology and gender historyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

ArielleAriel

Nicknames

AriRiel

Famous Bearers

★Ariel Sharon (1928–2014)
Israeli military general and 11th Prime Minister of Israel.

If you like Ariel…

Gabriel— shares the Hebrew El suffix, the angel-name heritage, and the same three-syllable structure

Raphael— another Hebrew archangel name with the same El ending and parallel three-syllable rhythm

Azriel— shares the -iel Hebrew structure and the same literary and spiritual associations

Eliel— Hebrew El-El compound name with the same divine naming tradition and similar sound

Frequently Asked

What does the name Ariel mean?

Ariel is Hebrew for 'lion of God,' composed of ari (lion) and El (God). It is a poetic name for Jerusalem in Isaiah and a spirit in Shakespeare's The Tempest.

How do you pronounce Ariel?

It is said AIR-ee-el — three syllables, stress on the first.

Is Ariel a boy or girl name?

Ariel is genuinely unisex with a long history for both sexes. In Israel and Jewish communities it is predominantly male; in the U.S. Disney's The Little Mermaid pushed it female, but it remains in common use for boys.

How popular is Ariel?

Ariel ranks in the U.S. top 300 for boys and higher for girls. It has strong usage in Jewish and Hispanic communities.