Pronunciation: [ g-AYBR-ee-uhl ]
The archangel who speaks for God across three faiths
"From Hebrew 'Gavriel'; the archangel Gabriel appears in the Bible, Quran, and other religious texts as a messenger of God"
"God is my strength"
"hero of God, man of God"
Gabriel comes from the Hebrew 'Gavri'el', composed of 'gever' (man, strength) and 'El' (God), meaning 'God is my strength' or 'God is my hero'. Gabriel appears in the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament, and the Quran as the archangel who serves as God's primary messenger — announcing the births of John the Baptist and Jesus, and dictating the Quran to Muhammad.
Gabriel has risen steadily in the US through the 2000s and 2010s, appealing to Catholic and Protestant families alike for its angelic gravitas combined with a strong, masculine feel. The nickname Gabe keeps it approachable, while the full name sounds refined.
As the archangel of annunciation and revelation, Gabriel holds a unique position across all three major Abrahamic faiths. In Islam, Jibril (Gabriel) occupies the highest rank among angels. In Christian art, Gabriel is typically depicted with a lily, symbol of purity, or a trumpet heralding the Second Coming.
Entertainer
1976
American stand-up comedian known as 'Fluffy', one of the most successful Latino comedians in the US
Writer
1927
Colombian Nobel Prize-winning author who wrote One Hundred Years of Solitude and founded the magical realism literary movement
Religious
The divine messenger in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, who announced the births of John the Baptist and Jesus and dictated the Quran
Gabriel is also used as a girl name, ranked #5562.
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Gabriel is a boy name with English, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and Jewish origins . The name means "From Hebrew 'Gavriel'; the archangel Gabriel appears in the Bible, Quran, and other religious texts as a messenger of God" in Biblical .
Is Gabriel a boy or girl name? Gabriel is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it ranks #43 in popularity. As a girl name, it ranks #5,562. Gabriel is more commonly used as a boy name.
Gabriel is currently ranked #43 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
The name Gabriel has 3 syllables and is pronounced g-AYBR-ee-uhl, making it distinctive and memorable.
Common nicknames for Gabriel include Gabe and Gabi. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Gabriel include Gabriele . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.