boy's name
Gabriel
GAY-bree-ul
- Origin Hebrew
- Gender Boy
- Syllables 3
- Letters 7
- Popularity Top 100 (US)
- Births on record 683,159
the United States
#37
2025 births
Gabriel is a boy's name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my strength," from Gavri'el. It belongs to the archangel who interprets visions in the Book of Daniel and announces the births of John the Baptist and Jesus in the Gospel of Luke.
- Gabriel is a name of Hebrew origin.
- Peaked in 2008, when 13,188 babies were given the name.
- It has been falling over the past decade.
- Today about 1 in 504 babies in the United States is given this name.
- 3 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Gabriel over time
Births per decade in the United States, 1880s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, still in progress — it covers 2020 to 2025, not a full ten years.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 147 |
| 1890s | 144 |
| 1900s | 234 |
| 1910s | 1,376 |
| 1920s | 2,228 |
| 1930s | 1,849 |
| 1940s | 2,073 |
| 1950s | 3,243 |
| 1960s | 6,299 |
| 1970s | 24,857 |
| 1980s | 33,329 |
| 1990s | 57,262 |
| 2000s | 121,792 |
| 2010s | 106,194 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 41,600 |
What Gabriel means
Gabriel means "God is my strength" or "strong man of God," combining the Hebrew gever, meaning strong man, with El, God. Both readings are current, depending on whether the first element is treated as a noun or as a descriptor.
Where Gabriel comes from
Gabriel comes from the Hebrew Gavri'el, from gever, a strong man, and El, God. Gabriel is one of only two angels named in the Hebrew Bible — the other being Michael — appearing in Daniel to explain the prophet's visions. In the Gospel of Luke he announces the coming births of John the Baptist and of Jesus, the episode known as the Annunciation and among the most frequently painted scenes in Western art. He is also significant in Islam as Jibril, the angel who reveals the Quran to Muhammad, making Gabriel one of the few names of genuine standing across all three Abrahamic traditions.
Gabriel in use
Gabriel appears by name in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic scripture alike.
How popular is Gabriel?
In 2025, Gabriel was given to 6,579 babies in the United States, ranking #37 that year. It is one of the most popular names in the United States.
Where Gabriel is used
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
How Gabriel is spelled
Birth registers count each spelling separately, so every one has its own ranking.
| Spelling | What it is | Births on record |
|---|---|---|
| Gabriël | Gabriël is Gabriel written with a diaeresis, used in France, where it ranks #1,291. | 240 |
| Gabrïel | Gabrïel is a rare spelling of Gabriel, written with a diaeresis and recorded about 10 times, mostly in France. | 10 |
| Gabrièl | Gabrièl is a rare spelling of Gabriel, written with a grave accent and recorded about 5 times, mostly in France. | 5 |
Names that peaked alongside Gabriel
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents who like Gabriel also like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Gabriel over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
4 nicknames for Gabriel
Each one is a name in its own right — the figure underneath is how it is doing today, so you can see which short forms are rising and which have faded.
Gabriel in other languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
- Bulgarian
- Gavril
- Catalan
- Biel
- Dutch
- Gabrielle
- French
- Gabrielle
- German
- Gabriele
- Greek
- Gavriel
- Italian
- Gabriele
- Latvian
- Gabriels
- Macedonian
- Gavril
- Romanian
- Gavril
- Swedish
- Gabriele
- Other forms
- Forms we hold no single language for — some are used across several, some are simply spelled differently.
- Jibril Gabriell Gabrielius
Sibling names for Gabriel
Names from the same era that won't rhyme or share an initial with Gabriel — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common questions about Gabriel
What does the name Gabriel mean?
Gabriel means "God is my strength," from the Hebrew Gavri'el.
Who is the archangel Gabriel?
The angel who interprets visions in Daniel and announces the births of John the Baptist and Jesus in Luke.
Is Gabriel in the Quran?
Yes — as Jibril, the angel who reveals the Quran to Muhammad.
How popular is the name Gabriel?
In 2025, Gabriel was given to 6,579 babies in the United States, ranking #37 that year. It is one of the most popular names in the United States.
Is Gabriel a girl's or a boy's name?
Gabriel is given almost entirely to boys in birth records.
How many syllables are in Gabriel?
Gabriel has 3 syllables.
When was Gabriel most popular?
Gabriel peaked in 2008, when 13,188 babies were given the name. It has been falling over the past decade.
What are the nicknames for Gabriel?
Gabriel is usually shortened to Gabe, Gabby, Riel and Bri.
Is Gabriel a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Gabriel currently ranks #1 in the United States. It has been falling over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.