Rising since 1996, #5,608 for boys today.
Popularity of Arel since 1916
Babies named Arel per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 5 |
| 1920s | 12 |
| 1930s | 5 |
| 1940s | 0 |
| 1950s | 5 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 6 |
| 1980s | 12 |
| 1990s | 16 |
| 2000s | 70 |
| 2010s | 100 |
| 2020s | 75 |
Meaning & origin
Arel is a rare spelling variant of the better-known Ariel, a name with deep Hebrew roots meaning 'lion of God'. In recent years, the name has seen a notable rise in usage for boys, climbing back into the U.S. top 10,000 after decades of obscurity. It was first recorded in 1916 but remained extremely uncommon until the late 1990s. The trajectory of Arel indicates a steady increase since 1996, with its peak year in 2025, suggesting growing interest in streamlined biblical variants. While its one-in-106,755 ratio places it far from mainstream, the name's simplicity and strong sound may appeal to parents seeking a distinctive yet traditional choice. Arel's top state usage is not concentrated, indicating broad but very low-level national appeal.
Arel is a variant of the name Ariel, which appears in the Hebrew Bible as a name for Jerusalem and as a personal name. In Hebrew, it combines 'ari' (lion) and 'el' (God), meaning 'lion of God'. The spelling Arel, while less common, has been used occasionally in English-speaking countries since at least the early 20th century.
“Arel” around the world
Where Arel lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
15
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Sibling names for Arel
Names that share Arel's style, for a brother or sister.
