The nameGabriel
Gabriel is a boy's name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my strength". The name of the archangel of the Annunciation, it is popular in many languages.
- Boy's name
- Hebrew
- Feast day
Meaning
Gabriel comes from the Hebrew Gavri'el, made of gever, "strong man", or gavar, "to be strong", and El, "God": "God is my strength".
Origin
Hebrew. Gabriel is the archangel who announces to Mary that she will be the mother of Jesus, and in Islam the angel Jibril who reveals the Quran.
History
Gabriel has been a leading name in France, Brazil and Spanish-speaking countries for years, and it has ranked in the American top 50 for many years. Gabe is its usual short form.
Gabriel in other languages
Gabriel is spelled the same in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese and German. It is Gabriele in Italian, Gavriil in Russian, Gavril in Romanian and Bulgarian, Gábor in Hungarian and Gavriel in modern Hebrew.
Nicknames for Gabriel
The most common nicknames for Gabriel: Gabe and Gabby.
Did you know?
- Gabriel has been the most popular boys' name in France almost every year since 2015.
- Gabriel García Márquez, author of One Hundred Years of Solitude, won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1982.
- The composer Gabriel Fauré became director of the Paris Conservatoire in 1905.
Famous people named Gabriel
- Saint Gabriel the Archangel
- Gabriel García Márquez, writer
- Gabriel Fauré, composer
- Gabriel Macht, actor
Popularity of the name Gabriel
Gabriel in the United States
Gabriel was most popular in the United States in the 2000s, with 121,789 births over the decade, 31% of all recorded babies named Gabriel. Its rise began around 1971, and it peaked in 2008. Half of all babies named Gabriel in the United States were born before 2005, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 6,991 births a year on average, against 9,353 in the five years before.
Gabriel in the United Kingdom
Gabriel was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2010s, with 9,913 births over the decade, 44% of all recorded babies named Gabriel. Half of all babies named Gabriel in the United Kingdom were born before 2013, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 827 births a year on average, against 1,037 in the five years before.
Gabriel in Ireland
Gabriel in France
Gabriel in Belgium
Gabriel in Switzerland
Gabriel in Austria
Gabriel in Norway
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Gabriel
Names from the same generation as Gabriel, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Gabriel? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Gabriel with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Gabriel side by side with the name of your choice.
Gabriel in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Gabriel mean?
Gabriel comes from the Hebrew Gavri'el, made of gever, "strong man", or gavar, "to be strong", and El, "God": "God is my strength".
What is the origin of the name Gabriel?
Hebrew. Gabriel is the archangel who announces to Mary that she will be the mother of Jesus, and in Islam the angel Jibril who reveals the Quran.
Is Gabriel a girl's or a boy's name?
Gabriel is a boy's name.
How popular is the name Gabriel?
In 2024, Gabriel was the 43rd most popular name for baby boys in the United States, with 6,379 births.
What are the variants of the name Gabriel?
Variants and related names of Gabriel include Brielle, Gabriella, Gabrielle, Gaby and Marie-Gabrielle.
What are good sibling names for Gabriel?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Abigail, Elizabeth, Chloe and Isabella for a sister, Isaiah, Caleb, Isaac and Ethan for a brother.
What are common nicknames for Gabriel?
The most common nicknames for Gabriel are Gabe and Gabby.
Who are famous people named Gabriel?
Saint Gabriel the Archangel; Gabriel García Márquez, writer; Gabriel Fauré, composer; Gabriel Macht, actor.