The nameAriel
Ariel is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lion of God". The Little Mermaid made it a girl's name, while it remains a boy's name in Israel.
- Unisex name
- Hebrew
Meaning
Ariel comes from the Hebrew Ari'el, "lion of God".
Origin
Hebrew. In the Bible, Ariel is a poetic name for Jerusalem. Shakespeare gave it to the airy spirit of The Tempest.
History
Disney's The Little Mermaid (1989), whose heroine is called Ariel, made it a girl's name in the United States, where it reached the top 70. In Israel it is mostly a boy's name, as with Ariel Sharon.
Did you know?
- Ariel is the spirit of the air who serves Prospero in Shakespeare's The Tempest. A moon of Uranus discovered in 1851 bears the name.
Famous people named Ariel
- Ariel Sharon, Prime Minister of Israel
- Ariel Winter, actress
- Ariel, heroine of The Little Mermaid
- Ariel, spirit of The Tempest
Popularity of the name Ariel
Ariel in the United States
Ariel was most popular in the United States in the 1990s, with 32,804 births over the decade, 33% of all recorded babies named Ariel. Its rise began around 1982, and it peaked in 1991. Half of all babies named Ariel in the United States were born before 2001. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 1,788 births a year on average, against 2,556 in the five years before.
Ariel in the United Kingdom
Ariel was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2010s, with 429 births over the decade, 42% of all recorded babies named Ariel. Half of all babies named Ariel in the United Kingdom were born before 2017, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, its popularity has held steady at around 62 births a year.
Ariel in France
Ariel in Norway
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Ariel
Names from the same generation as Ariel, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Ariel? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Ariel with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Ariel side by side with the name of your choice.
Ariel in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ariel mean?
Ariel comes from the Hebrew Ari'el, "lion of God".
What is the origin of the name Ariel?
Hebrew. In the Bible, Ariel is a poetic name for Jerusalem. Shakespeare gave it to the airy spirit of The Tempest.
Is Ariel a girl's or a boy's name?
Ariel is a unisex name, given to both girls and boys. In the United States, 78% of the babies named Ariel are girls.
How popular is the name Ariel?
In 2024, Ariel was the 300th most popular name for baby girls in the United States, with 1,051 births.
What are the variants of the name Ariel?
Variants and related names of Ariel include Adriel.
What are good sibling names for Ariel?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Miriam, Talia, Madelyn and Joanna for a sister, Abraham, Simon, Emmanuel and Rafael for a brother.
Who are famous people named Ariel?
Ariel Sharon, Prime Minister of Israel; Ariel Winter, actress; Ariel, heroine of The Little Mermaid; Ariel, spirit of The Tempest.