The story behind Ariel
From Biblical Hebrew אֲרִיאֵל (ari'él, a compound of אֲרִי (arí, “lion”) + אֵל (él, “God”), literally “lion of God”). * (moon of Uranus): All of Uranus’s moons are named after characters created by William Shakespeare or Alexander Pope. The names of all four satellites of Uranus then known were suggested by John Herschel in 1852 at the request of William Lassell, though it is uncertain if Herschel devised the names, or if Lassell did so and then sought Herschel’s permission. Ariel is the name of the leading sylph in Pope’s The Rape of the Lock and also the spirit who serves Prospero in Shakespeare’s The Tempest.
Pronunciation
General American, Mary–marry–merry merger: /ˈɛɹiəl/
Regional pronunciation variants
- Received-Pronunciation, without the Mary–marry–merry merger: /ˈɛəɹɪəl/
- Received-Pronunciation, without the Mary–marry–merry merger: /ˈɛəɹiəl/
Popularity
Ariel ranked #356 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Ariel
Abel
English Abel From Middle English Abel, from Old English Ābel, from Latin Abel, from Ancient Greek Ἅβελ (Hábel), from Biblical Hebrew הֶבֶל (Héḇel, “Abel”), possibly from the…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- same syllable count
- similar length
Ábel
From Hebrew הבל (Hebel).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- same syllable count
- similar length
Adriel
Borrowed from Hebrew עדריאל (“flock of God”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- same syllable count
- similar length
Bathuel
From Biblical Hebrew בְּתוּאֵל (Betuwél)
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- same syllable count
- similar length
Cadmiel
Ultimately from Hebrew קדמיאל (“standing before God, God is first”), from קדמי (“in front of, before, first”) and אל (ʾēl, “God, deity”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- same syllable count
- similar length
Carmel
From Hebrew כַּרְמֶל (karmél, “vineyard of El/God”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Ariel
Abednego
From Hebrew עֲבֵד נְגוֹא, itself derived from a reconstructed Aramaic name meaning likely "servant of Nabu" or "servant of Nergal".
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Abigail
From Hebrew אֲבִיגַיִל (avigáyil, “Abigail”, literally “my Father's joy” or “fountain of joy”). a female given name from Hebrew, equivalent to English Abigail Borrowed from…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Abigaíl
Borrowed from Hebrew אֲבִיגַיִל (avigáyil, “Abigail”, literally “her Father's joy, or, fountain of joy”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Ariel
Barak
From Hebrew בָּרָק (“lightning”). From Arabic بَارَك (bārak, “he who is blessed”). Cognate with the biblical name Baruch of Hebrew origin. The usage of the root ب ر ك (b r k)…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends K
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Barnaba
From Ancient Greek Βαρναβᾶς (Barnabâs), from the Hebrew בּר (bar, “son”) and נָבִיא (naví, “prophet”). Derived from Ancient Greek Βαρναβᾶς (Barnabâs).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Barnaby
* English surname of Aramaic origin, from בַּר נְבִיָּא (bar nəḇiyyā, literally “prophet’s son”). * Also as an English surname, from Old English Beornwald, from beorn (“young…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length