Rising since 1996, #656 for boys today.
Popularity of Azrael since 1994
Babies named Azrael per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0 | 17 |
| 2000s | 45 | 195 |
| 2010s | 159 | 924 |
| 2020s | 157 | 2,052 |
Meaning & origin
Azrael first entered U.S. birth records in 1994 and has been rising in popularity since 1996. In 2025 it ranked 656th, with 1 in 4,057 boys receiving the name, marking its peak year. The name was most common in Nevada, Arizona, and Texas, reflecting a regional concentration in the South and West. Its strong association with the angel of death in Jewish and Islamic eschatology gives it a darkly poetic quality that appeals to parents seeking a distinctive name with historical and theological weight. Despite its somber meaning, Azrael's rising trajectory suggests growing acceptance as a unique choice, part of a broader trend toward names with celestial and mythological resonance.
Azrael is derived from the Hebrew 'ʿăzarʾēl,' meaning 'God has helped.' In Jewish and Islamic angelology, he is known as the angel of death who separates the soul from the body. The name appears in late antique texts and gained broader recognition in the West through literature and pop culture.
Where Azrael is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Azrael” around the world
Where Azrael lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Az, Rae, Zrael
Variants: Azrael, Azraël, Azrail
Sibling names for Azrael
Names that share Azrael's style, for a brother or sister.
