Gabriel
Meaning of Gabriel
Gabriel, pronounced GAY-bree-əl (/ˈɡeɪbriəl/), descends from the Hebrew גַּבְרִיאֵל (Gavriʾel) and translates most closely to “God is my strength,” a confessional phrase that situates the name at the intersection of linguistic scholarship and theological history; in Judeo-Christian scripture the Archangel Gabriel appears as the solemn herald of revelation—announcing the births of John the Baptist and Jesus—while in Islamic tradition (as Jibrīl) he embodies the authoritative transmitter of the Qur’ān, thereby granting the name an ecumenical gravitas unusual among given names. Within Anglo-American usage the appellation maintained modest visibility for decades but, according to U.S. vital-statistics data, initiated a measured ascent in the late 1960s, entered the national Top 100 in 1990, and has sustained a position inside the Top 50 since 2000, peaking at rank 21 in 2010 and stabilizing around the low-40s in 2024; this steady performance suggests a durable appeal that resists the volatility characteristic of fashion-driven naming cycles. Phonologically fluid, culturally resonant, and supported by an unbroken tradition of scriptural, artistic, and literary references—from Renaissance paintings to contemporary cinema—Gabriel projects an image of poised strength tempered by intellectual refinement, an equilibrium that continues to attract parents who favor names with historical depth yet contemporary accessibility.
Pronunciation
English
- Pronunced as gay-bree-ul (/ˈɡeɪbriəl/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
States Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Gabriel
| Gabriel García Márquez - Gabriel Jose Garcia Marquez was a Colombian writer and journalist known as Gabo, a towering 20th century Spanish language author who won the 1972 Neustadt and the 1982 Nobel Prize in Literature. |
| Gabriel Fauré - Gabriel Urbain Faure was a leading French composer, organist, pianist, and teacher whose works like Pavane and Requiem influenced 20th century composers, and though his early pieces are best known, his later music became more harmonically complex. |
| Gabriel Batistuta is an Argentine former footballer, nicknamed Batigol and El Angel Gabriel, hailed as one of the greatest strikers and named by Pele to the 2004 FIFA 100. |
| Gabriel Jesus is a Brazilian forward for Arsenal and the Brazil national team. |
| Gabriel Alejandro Paletta is a retired professional footballer who played center back. |
| Gabriel Kahane is an American composer, singer and songwriter. |
| Gabriel Scally is an Irish public health physician and academic, former regional public health director in southwest England, visiting professor at the University of Bristol, member of Independent SAGE, and past leader with the Soil Association, a WHO collaborating centre, and a section of the Royal Society of Medicine. |
| Gabriel Richard was a French Roman Catholic priest who ministered to French Catholics at Sainte Anne de Detroit as well as to Protestants and Native Americans across southeast Michigan. |
| Gabriel Paulista is a Brazilian footballer who plays center back for Super Lig club Besiktas. |
| Gabriel Iglesias, known as Fluffy, is an American comedian and actor famed for Netflix and Comedy Central specials, starring in Mr. Iglesias and Magic Mike, and voicing Speedy Gonzales. |
| Gabriel von Max - Gabriel Cornelius Ritter von Max was a Prague born Austrian painter, professor of history painting at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, and collector of anthropological artifacts. |
| Gabriel Laderman was a New York painter and a key early figure in the Figurative revival of the 1950s and 1960s. |
| Andrei Gabriel Torje is a Romanian professional football winger. |
| Gabriel Pierné - Henri Pierne was a French composer, conductor, pianist, and organist. |
| Gabriel James Rains was a career US Army officer who became a Confederate brigadier general during the American Civil War. |
