Gabriel brings glad tidings to Mary in the New Testament. And for the past twenty-five years, parents have announced the arrival of their sons sharing the angel’s name.
Thanks to Kelly for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
Gabriel: Messenger
We all know the angel visited Mary, but it wasn’t his first outing. He’s mentioned in the Old Testament, and plays roles in the teachings of Judaism, Islam, and more.
The name comes from the Hebrew, and means something like “God is my strength” or possibly “God is my strong man.”
Milton placed him at the gates of Paradise.
The Bible tells us that a horn will signal the beginning of Armageddon; popular lore names the angel as the horn blower. Cole Porter’s beloved musical Anything Goes included the song “Blow, Gabriel, Blow” in 1934.
This makes the name deeply spiritual, and yet, unlike many a Biblical boy name, this one feels generally wearable.
Gabriel: Gabe
Gabe transforms the name from angel to cowboy.
While we rarely find boys named just Gabe, a great many boys do prefer the nickname. In 2015, just 88 boys received the nickname version, while nearly 10,800 boys were given the full name.
Hannah Montana and Good Luck, Charlie – both Disney Channel series – included characters referred to by the nickname only.
Gabriel: Traditional
The name qualifies as traditional. It has appeared in the US Top 1000 every year since 1880.
Besides the angel, you might think of:
- An Italian saint, who lived in the 1800s and was canonized in 1920.
- A slave by the name led an uprising in Richmond, Virginia in 1800. He was hanged, but has since been pardoned and honored.
- Nineteenth century French philosopher Marcel.
- Nobel-prize winning novelist García Márquez, known for One Hundred Years of Solitude and Love in the Time of Cholera.
Plenty of others could be added to the list, too.
Gabriel: The Rise
The name started to catch on in the 1960s, and entered the US Top 100 in 1976.
No single reason explains the name’s rise. One possibility: the popularity of Michael, which reached #1 in the 1950s, boosted the similar Gabriel.
Instead, we find a steady increase in high profile uses of the name.
Sometimes it occurs as a surname – think of Genesis alum Peter, equally successful as a solo artist and advocate for world music.
Actors Byrne and later Macht were both early bearers of the name.
In 2003, the royal family of Belgium welcomed Prince Gabriel Baudouin Charles Marie, second in line to the throne behind big sister Elisabeth.
Gabriel: By the Numbers
This name appears in the Top 100 – or even Top Ten – in many a nation. You’ll hear it in France and Spain, Canada and Australia, Sweden and Austria, Chile and Brazil, to name just a few. It’s especially popular in Georgia, thanks to a monk known for his opposition to Communism, now considered a national hero.
In the US, the name has ranked in the US Top 100 nearly every year since 1976. It appears in the Top 25 every year, beginning with 2008.
Of course, pop culture helps buoy the name, with characters on shows like Heroes and Supernatural. It’s also true that style-sibling Michael remains a Top Ten favorite.
Gabriel: Favorite
The name mixes a spiritual, serious side with rough and tumble nickname Gabe and a certain jazzy appeal, thanks to all the references to Gabriel’s trumpet.
If you’re looking for a modern favorite that feels current without being modern, this name might be one to add to your shortlist. Just know that the name – along with feminine forms – has become a staple choice in recent years.
Would you consider Gabriel for a son?
This post was published on January 11, 2010. After substantial revision, it was reposted on October 24, 2016.
My 4 month old is Gabriel. My favorite thing about the name is it’s connection to the archangel. So far my husband and I call him by his full name while his older siblings tend to call him Gabe. One thing that has surprised me is how many times when reading his name a medical person will say Gabrielle.
Gabriel is in my top ten for names. I just imagine a kind-hearted and giving individual any time I hear the name. I get the same feeling when I hear the names Jeremy, Elliot, and Gale.
Gabe sounds so laid back as well.