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Name at a glance

Gabriel

Gabriel is a Hebrew name often explained as God is my strength.

Ranked #37 in US baby names in 2025, declining over the past 5 years.

Gabriel is one of the best-known angelic names in the Bible, associated with major announcements in Daniel and Luke.

Browse namesRead Gabriel's story
OriginHebrew
GenderBoy
FeelAngelic
PronunciationGAY-bree-el

Is Gabriel biblical?

Yes

Biblical status Direct biblical person

Gabriel is a named angel in Scripture, appearing in Daniel to interpret visions and in Luke to announce the births of John the Baptist and Jesus.

Is Gabriel a Christian name?

Yes

Christian tradition Foundational, across traditions

Gabriel is used across Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, and broader Christian traditions, honored as one of the three named archangels with the Annunciation as its central association.

Plain answer

Gabriel is a biblical angelic name from Daniel and Luke and a foundational Christian name used across all major traditions.

Confidence High Last reviewed July 19, 2026 How this works

Meaning

The meaning of Gabriel

Gabriel is commonly explained from Hebrew elements connected with strength and God. The usual meaning is God is my strength or man of God, depending on how the elements are understood.

Biblical role

Gabriel as messenger

Gabriel appears in Daniel and Luke as a heavenly messenger. In Christian memory, the name is especially tied to the announcement to Mary before the birth of Jesus.

That gives Gabriel a strong association with revelation, calling, and the arrival of good news.

Sound

How to pronounce Gabriel

Phonetic
GAY-bree-el
IPA
/ˈɡeɪbɹiəl/

3 syllables · stress: GAY-bree-el · ends in a consonant

Forms

Variants and nicknames

Alternate spellings

  • Gavriel
  • Jibril
  • Gabrijel
  • Gabriele

Short forms and nicknames

  • Gabe
  • Gabby

Languages

Gabriel in other languages

Hebrew
גַּבְרִיאֵלGavriel
Greek
ΓαβριήλGabriēl
Latin
Gabriel
Spanish
Gabriel
French
Gabriel
German
Gabriel
Italian
Gabriele
Russian
ГавриилGavriil
Arabic
جِبْرِيلJibril

Christian background

Christian and biblical background

Gabriel is important across Christian tradition because of the annunciation story in Luke. The name has also been widely used in Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, and broader Christian contexts. Gabriel, Michael, and Raphael are the three named archangels of Christian tradition; the biblical angel names column reads the three together as a naming decision.

Scripture

The biblical figure

Gabriel appears as a messenger in Daniel and Luke. In Luke 1, Gabriel announces the coming birth of Jesus to Mary.

Read the full story of Gabriel in the Bible

Bearers

Notable people named Gabriel

  • biblical

    GabrielArchangel who appears in Daniel 8 and 9 and announces the births of John the Baptist and Jesus in Luke 1

  • historical

    Gabriel FauréFrench composer of the Requiem and Pavane, 1845 to 1924

  • historical

    Gabriele D'AnnunzioItalian poet, journalist, and political figure of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, 1863 to 1938

  • historical

    Gabriel García MárquezColombian novelist, author of One Hundred Years of Solitude, Nobel laureate, 1927 to 2014

  • modern

    Gabriel IglesiasAmerican stand-up comedian, born 1976

Naming history

Naming tradition and history

Gabriel has long been used in Christian communities and has become familiar in modern English-speaking naming. Gabe gives it an approachable everyday form.

Recent US use

Gabriel in recent US use

Rank in 2025
#37
Peak rank
#21 in 2010
Recent trend
declining over the last 5 years
Years in the SSA records
146 (since 1880)

Source: US Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880-2025.

Sibling fit

Sibling name suggestions

Pairings

Names paired with Gabriel

  • Maryfigure addressed in Annunciation

    Gabriel announces the conception of Jesus to Mary in Luke 1:26-38; the foundational New Testament scene that ties the two names together.

For families

For families looking at Gabriel

For a Christian family, Gabriel is a strong biblical name with both spiritual weight and mainstream usability. It may suit families who like angelic names that are familiar rather than obscure.

Common questions

What does Gabriel mean?

Gabriel is often explained as God is my strength.

Is Gabriel a biblical name?

Yes. Gabriel appears in Daniel and Luke.

Is Gabe a nickname for Gabriel?

Yes. Gabe is the most familiar English nickname for Gabriel.

Sources

Sources for Gabriel

  • A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament, Brown, Driver, and BriggsSupports: Hebrew etymology; meaning 'God is my strength'.
  • The Gospel of Luke, King James Version (KJV 1769)Supports: biblical figure; angelic annunciation in Luke 1.

Last reviewed July 19, 2026. See our methodology, or report an error on the corrections page.

Read next

Related names

JohnGabriel announces John the Baptist's conception to Zacharias in Luke 1:13-20; John is Gabriel's first named announcement in the Lucan birth narratives.DanielGabriel appears to Daniel by name in Daniel 8:16 and 9:21; one of only two named angels in the Old Testament alongside Michael.MatthewMatthew's Gospel cites the Isaiah 7:14 Emmanuel prophecy that the angel applies to Jesus' birth (Matthew 1:23), the same announcement Gabriel makes to Mary in Luke.RaphaelThe healing archangel of the Book of Tobit; Gabriel and Raphael both appear at pivotal moments, Gabriel at the Annunciation and Raphael in the healing journey of Tobit. Catholic tradition honors Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael together.UrielThe angelic interpreter of 2 Esdras and one of four archangels in 1 Enoch. Uriel and Gabriel appear together in 1 Enoch as two of the four archangels overseeing creation.