Uriel
Meaning
“God is my light”
The story
Uriel is a Hebrew name meaning “God is my light.” It is also the name of an archangel in Jewish tradition and some Christian traditions. In those traditions, Uriel is often named alongside Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. US records show the vast difference in use among the four names: about 4,445,100 Michaels, 402,500 Gabriels, 24,600 Raphaels and 21,400 Uriels. Uriel’s American record rises gradually, with about 340 births in the 1970s, 950 in the 1980s, 3,500 in the 1990s, 6,500 in the 2000s, 5,900 in the 2010s and 3,900 so far in the 2020s, nearly all boys. That is not the shape of a sudden craze, but a long, patient climb. The image of light suits that curve. Among the four, Uriel is the most understated: the light that arrives without making a noise.
Popularity, 1890–2024
Shape drawn from US Social Security baby-name records. Uriel peaked in the 2020s.
See popularity in Brazil
Popularity in Brazil
6,235 people · the #2,350 first name in Brazil · about 1 in 32,258 · median age 13
Among people named Uriel living in Brazil at the 2022 census, more were born in the 2010s than in any other decade.
The census also counted 1,442 born between 2020 and August 2022, too recent a span to chart.
Source: IBGE, Censo Demográfico 2022
When you meet Uriel
Most people given the name Uriel in the United States are teenagers or young adults today.
Estimated from US Social Security birth registrations and typical lifespans; a rough guide, not a rule.
The Uriel deep dive
Whether you’re naming a baby or exploring your own name’s history, this is a personal letter, not a list: where Uriel truly comes from, how it traveled, and what a century of records reveals. If you have grown a tree on nametree, it also considers how Uriel fits with your family’s names and surname.
Where Uriel travels
Mexican American · God is my light (biblical archangel name)
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