Ariel Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: AIR-ee-uhl //ˈɛəriəl//
Origin: Hebrew; English
Meaning: Hebrew: Lion of God; English: Air or Spirit
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Ariel has its roots in the Hebrew language, derived from the word 'Ari'el' (אֲרִיאֵל), which translates to 'lion of God.' This etymology reflects a combination of 'ari' (lion) and 'El' (God), emphasizing strength and divine connection. The name appears in the Hebrew Bible, where it is associated with the city of Jerusalem and is used metaphorically to refer to the altar or the temple.
The name's transition into English occurred through the Latin 'Ariel,' which was adopted in various forms during the Renaissance, particularly through translations of biblical texts and literary works, including Shakespeare's play 'The Tempest' in the early 17th century, where Ariel is depicted as a spirit of the air, showcasing the name's versatility and appeal in literature. Historically, Ariel has been borne by notable figures in religious texts and literature.
In the Bible, the name is mentioned in the context of the prophetic writings, signifying a place of significance. The use of Ariel in Shakespeare's work further popularized the name in the English-speaking world, where it was imbued with connotations of ethereal beauty and freedom.
The character of Ariel in 'The Tempest' is portrayed as a servant spirit, embodying themes of transformation and liberation, which resonated with audiences and contributed to the name's enduring legacy. Culturally, Ariel has been associated with various symbolic meanings, including strength, spirituality, and a connection to nature.
The name has been embraced in various artistic and literary contexts, often representing characters that embody grace and resilience. Additionally, diminutive forms like Ari have emerged, reflecting a more intimate or affectionate usage of the name.
Overall, Ariel's rich etymological background and historical significance have contributed to its lasting presence in various cultures.
Famous people named Ariel
In this section, you will find notable people named Ariel. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Ariel who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Ariel who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Ariel Winter is an actress best known for her role as Alex Dunphy on Modern Family, and for her voice work in Sofia the First.
Ariel Pink is a musician and singer-songwriter best known for his albums Before Today, Pom Pom, and Dedicated to Bobby Jameson.
Ariel Levy is a journalist and author best known for her work in The New Yorker and her book Female Chauvinist Pigs.
Fictional characters named Ariel
The following list of fictional characters named Ariel is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Ariel is a fictional character from the Disney animated film The Little Mermaid. She is a young mermaid princess who dreams of becoming human and falls in love with a human prince.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Ariel, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Ariel. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Ariel was first seen in the United States in 1892.
Ariel has ranked as high as #136 nationally, which occurred in 1991, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Florida, and Illinois.
In the past 5 years the name Ariel has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Ariel is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Ariel was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Ariel (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 194 | |
| TX | 170 | |
| FL | 59 | |
| NY | 50 | |
| GA | 45 | |
| IL | 45 | |
| AZ | 34 | |
| NC | 33 | |
| OH | 31 | |
| VA | 27 | |
| WA | 27 | |
| TN | 25 | |
| IN | 20 | |
| PA | 20 | |
| MD | 16 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Ariel.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,051 |
| 2023 | 1,094 |
| 2022 | 1,292 |
| 2021 | 1,351 |
| 2020 | 1,468 |
| 2019 | 1,683 |
| 2018 | 1,828 |
| 2017 | 2,075 |
| 2016 | 2,198 |
| 2015 | 2,358 |
| 2014 | 2,444 |
| 2013 | 2,140 |
| 2012 | 1,741 |
| 2011 | 1,438 |
| 2010 | 1,462 |
| 2009 | 1,577 |
| 2008 | 1,553 |
| 2007 | 1,784 |
| 2006 | 1,734 |
| 2005 | 1,568 |
| 2004 | 1,546 |
| 2003 | 1,548 |
| 2002 | 1,548 |
| 2001 | 1,654 |
| 2000 | 1,753 |
| 1999 | 1,834 |
| 1998 | 2,150 |
| 1997 | 2,212 |
| 1996 | 1,924 |
| 1995 | 2,149 |
| 1994 | 2,187 |
| 1993 | 2,707 |
| 1992 | 3,961 |
| 1991 | 5,411 |
| 1990 | 3,607 |
| 1989 | 1,284 |
| 1988 | 911 |
| 1987 | 626 |
| 1986 | 653 |
| 1985 | 600 |
| 1984 | 636 |
| 1983 | 650 |
| 1982 | 584 |
| 1981 | 228 |
| 1980 | 181 |
| 1979 | 154 |
| 1978 | 162 |
| 1977 | 105 |
| 1976 | 63 |
| 1975 | 60 |
| 1974 | 36 |
| 1973 | 42 |
| 1972 | 31 |
| 1971 | 26 |
| 1970 | 38 |
| 1969 | 30 |
| 1968 | 27 |
| 1967 | 13 |
| 1966 | 10 |
| 1965 | 11 |
| 1964 | 16 |
| 1963 | 9 |
| 1961 | 11 |
| 1960 | 12 |
| 1959 | 5 |
| 1957 | 11 |
| 1956 | 5 |
| 1954 | 8 |
| 1953 | 10 |
| 1952 | 8 |
| 1951 | 7 |
| 1950 | 9 |
| 1949 | 8 |
| 1948 | 5 |
| 1947 | 13 |
| 1946 | 11 |
| 1945 | 8 |
| 1944 | 6 |
| 1943 | 16 |
| 1942 | 8 |
| 1941 | 11 |
| 1939 | 7 |
| 1938 | 11 |
| 1937 | 8 |
| 1936 | 11 |
| 1935 | 8 |
| 1934 | 6 |
| 1933 | 7 |
| 1932 | 8 |
| 1931 | 9 |
| 1930 | 8 |
| 1929 | 14 |
| 1928 | 7 |
| 1927 | 12 |
| 1926 | 8 |
| 1925 | 12 |
| 1924 | 11 |
| 1923 | 10 |
| 1922 | 17 |
| 1921 | 16 |
| 1920 | 22 |
| 1919 | 11 |
| 1918 | 25 |
| 1917 | 15 |
| 1916 | 27 |
| 1915 | 23 |
| 1914 | 7 |
| 1913 | 19 |
| 1912 | 9 |
| 1911 | 14 |
| 1910 | 6 |
| 1909 | 7 |
| 1908 | 12 |
| 1907 | 9 |
| 1906 | 8 |
| 1905 | 5 |
| 1904 | 6 |
| 1900 | 5 |
| 1899 | 5 |
| 1894 | 5 |
| 1892 | 5 |