Emma Girl
EH-muh
“whole, universal” · Germanic
#3
Ariel
UnisexHebrew· “lion of God”
- Meaning
- lion of God
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- EH-ree-uhl
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #356
- US babies 2025
- 851
- Best rank
- #66 (1991)
- Peak year
- 1991
Meaning and origin of Ariel
Ariel is a Hebrew name that means “lion of God”.
Ariel is a Hebrew name meaning "lion of God." In the Bible it appears as a personal name in the Book of Ezra and as a poetic name for Jerusalem in the Book of Isaiah. Shakespeare gave it to the airy spirit who serves Prospero in The Tempest, and one of the moons of Uranus also bears the name. In Israel, Ariel is a common name for boys. In the United States it became popular for girls after Disney's The Little Mermaid, though it remains gender-neutral. The name feels light and imaginative, and Ari makes a friendly short form.
Other spellings with the same sound: Aerial, Arial.
Popularity over time
Ariel first appears in US Social Security records in 1892. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 48 different years, starting in 1978. Its best national rank was #66 in 1991, the same year it reached its highest count of 5,411 babies. In 2025, 851 babies were named Ariel, and it ranked #356 nationally. That is 64% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #1,822 in 1920, #3,677 in 1950, #853 in 1980, #184 in 2000, #213 in 2010, and #356 in 2025. Of the 78,697 US girls named Ariel since records began, 36% were born in the 1990s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 19,377 babies. Since 2010, 26,497 more have been named Ariel.
Other babies' names that peaked around the same time include Casey and Dominique.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Ariel ranked highest in New Mexico, California, and Arizona.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | #162 | 9 |
| California | #185 | 178 |
| Arizona | #213 | 32 |
| Nevada | #218 | 12 |
| Maryland | #271 | 19 |
Gender, sound and spelling
Ariel is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 78% of US babies named Ariel were girls and 22% were boys.
Ariel is usually pronounced EH-ree-uhl, with three syllables. It has five letters, starts with A and ends in “-el”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Aerial and Arial.
Middle names for Ariel
A few middle names that flow with Ariel: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Ariel
Similar names
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mee-GEHL
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JOHL
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Lists that include Ariel
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ariel mean?
Ariel is a Hebrew name that means “lion of God”.
What is the origin of the name Ariel?
Ariel has Hebrew roots. Ariel is a Hebrew name meaning "lion of God." In the Bible it appears as a personal name in the Book of Ezra and as a poetic name for Jerusalem in the Book of Isaiah.
Is Ariel a popular name?
Yes. Ariel ranked #356 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Ariel a boy or girl name?
Ariel is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 78% of US babies named Ariel were girls and 22% were boys.
How do you pronounce Ariel?
Ariel is usually pronounced EH-ree-uhl. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings