Gabriel Name Meaning
Gabriel is a frequently-used name meaning "God is my strength." Learn more about the meaning of the name Gabriel, along with its origin and popularity.
Fact checked by Karen Cilli
The meaning of the name Gabriel harkens back to Biblical times. Hebrew in origin, the name Gabriel is translated as “God is my strength,” “God is my strong man,” or “hero of God.”
In Christian belief, Gabriel is revered not just as one of only two archangels mentioned in the Bible (along with Michael), but also as the bearer of very good news. Gabriel is the archangel who visited the Virgin Mary in the Bible to announce that she would be the mother of Jesus Christ.
Although the angel Gabriel's most famous scriptural appearance is his visitation to Mary, this was not his first interaction with humanity. He also appears twice in the Old Testament book of Daniel to interpret Daniel’s visions about the future.
Many Christians also believe that Gabriel was the biblical angel who foretold the birth of John the Baptist to Zechariah, though he is not mentioned by name in this scene in the book of Luke. Gabriel plays a role in Islamic tradition, too, visiting Muhammad to inspire him to write the Quran.
Gabriel is a name choice with a long history—and, because of the scant scriptural details about this celestial being, it’s one with a hint of mystery, too.
Origin: The name Gabriel is a combination of two Hebrew words: gever, meaning “hero” or “strong man,” and el, meaning “God.” The biblical angel Gabriel is mentioned by name in the biblical books of Daniel and Luke.
Gender: Gabriel is typically a masculine name, but feminine variations like Gabrielle, Gabriela, and Gabby are common.
Pronunciation: GAYB-ree-uhl
Editor's Note
Although many baby names are separated by gender, Parents believes that sex does not need to play a role in your name selection process. It’s important to select a name that you feel suits your new baby the best.
How Popular Is the Name Gabriel?
The name Gabriel has gradually increased in popularity since 1900, when it ranked as the 564th most common name for boys. Through the mid-1960s, the name hovered in the range of 300th to 400th most popular. Then, around 1967, it began to climb. By 1976, Gabriel had broken into the double digits of popularity, culminating with its highest ranking in 2010.
Into the 2010s, Gabriel remained a popular name, ranking as the 38th most popular in 2020 and 2021. Beginning in the 1980s, the name Gabriel hit the charts as an option for girls as well—though it has never moved past a peak of No. 782 in 2000. As of 2022, Gabriel was the 36th most popular male name in the US.
Name Variations
The name Gabriel has a long history and is known by many variations in different languages and cultures. Some of these variations include:
Cebrail (Turkish)
Dzhabrail (Chechen)
Gabri?l (Dutch)
Gabriele (Italian)
Gabrielius (Lithuanian)
Gabrijel (Croatian)
Gavrel (Yiddish)
Gavrail, Gavril (Bulgarian)
Gavriel (Hebrew)
Gavrilo (Serbian)
Havryil (Ukrainian)
Jabril, Jibril (Arabic)
Similar Names
Other boys’ names of biblical origin include:
Daniel
David
Elijah
John
Matthew
Michael
Nathaniel
Samuel
Zechariah
Other boys' names beginning with "G" include:
Garrett
Garth
George
Gilbert
Giovanni
Graham
Grant
Grayson
Griffin
Guy
Common Nicknames for Gabriel
Common nicknames for the name Gabriel include:
Gabe: This one-syllable nickname implies a sense of strength and stability. Its simplicity and ease of spelling make it a reliable nickname choice. Since Gabe is a fairly obvious nickname for Gabriel, your child could alternate easily between going by Gabe and going by Gabriel.
Gabi: Most commonly a nickname in Spanish-speaking cultures, this shortening of Gabriel has a youthful, playful feel.
Suggested Sibling Names
Michael
Raphael
Aaron
Mary
Angel
Elizabeth
Daniel
Gavin
Gage
Gregory
Famous People Named Gabriel
Because Gabriel has ancient origins, there have been many notable people with this name. Entertainers, athletes, authors, and even royalty have been given the name that means "God is my strength."
Famous Gabriels
Gabriel Byrne, Irish actor
Gabriel Fauré, French Romantic composer
Gabriel García Márquez, Colombian novelist
Gabriel Iglesias, American comedian
Prince Gabriel of Belgium, European prince
Famous Gabes
Gabe Saporta, Uruguayan-American musician
Gabe Kapler, former American major league baseball player and as of 2023, assistant general manager of the Miami Marlins
Gabe Norwood, Filipino basketball player
More Baby Names
Still searching for the perfect baby name? Check out these related baby name lists for even more options:
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Read the original article on Parents.
