Ariel Name Meaning, Origin and Pronunciation

Ariel is a Hebrew-origin name meaning “lion of God,” used historically for both genders, though modern Western use skews toward girls following its association with the Disney character.

Meaning	lion of God
Origin	Hebrew
Pronunciation	AIR-ee-el
Gender	Historically used for boys in Hebrew and Israeli naming; commonly used for girls in the US and UK today
Related forms	none widely used; the name has stayed close to its original form

Origin and history

Ariel appears in the Hebrew Bible as a poetic name for Jerusalem, referenced in the Book of Isaiah, and is used as a given name for boys within Hebrew and Israeli naming traditions. Its use for girls in English-speaking countries grew substantially after the character Ariel appeared in Disney’s 1989 film “The Little Mermaid,” a specific and well documented shift in the name’s gender association in the US and UK.

Is Ariel a boy or girl name?

Both, depending on region and era. It remains traditionally used for boys in Hebrew and Israeli naming, while skewing heavily toward girls in the US and UK following the Disney character’s popularity.

Frequently asked questions

Is Ariel originally a boy’s name or a girl’s name?

Traditionally a boy’s name within Hebrew and Israeli naming custom. Its shift toward girls in English-speaking countries is a more recent, well documented development tied to Disney’s “The Little Mermaid.”

Is Ariel a Biblical name?

Yes, it appears in the Book of Isaiah as a poetic reference to Jerusalem, though it isn’t the personal name of a major individual Biblical figure.

Related reading

Related culture pages: Biblical girl names, Hebrew and Jewish names.