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Gabriel

♂ Boy

Pronounced GAY-bree-ul /ˈɡeɪ.bri.əl/High

Meaning: God is my strength; man of God; strong man of GodHigh

In 30 seconds: From the Hebrew 'God is my strength,' Gabriel is the name of the great archangel who announced the births of John the Baptist and Jesus. A beloved classic now in the U.S. top 25.
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Origin HighHebrew
MeaningGod is my strength; man of God; strong man of God
Peak year2008
Total births (all-time)≈ 337,623

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200818802017

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

History & Origin

Gabriel comes from the Hebrew Gavri'el (גַּבְרִיאֵל), composed of gabar (strong man, hero) and El (God), meaning 'God is my strength' or 'strong man of God.' The archangel Gabriel is one of the most important divine messengers in the Abrahamic religions.

Gabriel was used throughout the medieval Christian world and was especially popular in Catholic countries. In the United States it entered the top 100 boys' names in the 1970s and climbed steadily, reaching the top 25 by the early 21st century. It is popular across both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking communities.

Did you know? The archangel Gabriel appears as a divine messenger in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam — telling Mary she will conceive Jesus (Luke 1:26–38), revealing the Quran to the prophet Muhammad in Islamic tradition, and delivering divine visions to Daniel in the Hebrew Bible.

Variations

GabrieleGabrijelJibrilGavril

Nicknames

GabeGabiGabby

Famous Bearers

  • ★Gabriel García Márquez (1927–2014)
    Colombian novelist, Nobel Prize in Literature winner, author of One Hundred Years of Solitude.

If you like Gabriel…

Elijah— shares the Hebrew prophet/angel heritage and modern surge
Michael— another great archangel name with centuries of dominance
Sebastian— shares the distinguished multi-syllable classical feel
Mateo— equally popular and melodic Latin-heritage boys' name

Frequently Asked

What does the name Gabriel mean?

Gabriel comes from the Hebrew Gavri'el, meaning 'God is my strength' — the name of the archangel who appears as a divine messenger in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

How do you pronounce Gabriel?

Gabriel is said GAY-bree-ul /ˈɡeɪ.bri.əl/ — three syllables, with stress on the first.

Is Gabriel a boy or girl name?

Gabriel is primarily a boy's name; the feminine form is Gabriela or Gabrielle.

How popular is Gabriel?

Gabriel has ranked in the U.S. top 25 boys' names since the early 2000s and continues to be a consistent top-20 choice.