Adriel Overview
- Meaning: “Flock of God” or “My help is God.”
- Gender: Traditionally masculine.
- Origin: The name Adriel is Hebrew and is of biblical origin.
- Pronunciation: “Ay-dree-uhl” or “Add-ree-uhl”
- Popularity: Adriel only recently became popular, and ranked 154th in the United States in 2021.
- Nicknames: Ad, Adi, Addy, Adri.
- Variations: Ariel (Hebrew), Azrael (Hebrew), Ilya (Slavic), Junia (Greek), Uriel (Hebrew).
- Namesakes: Adriel the Meholathite of the Bible, Adriel “A. J.” Green American NFL wide receiver.
What Does Adriel Mean?
The most common translation for the name Adriel is “My help is God.” The meaning comes from the Hebrew word עַדְרִיאֵל, pronounced “ad-ree-ale”. Another common translation is “flock of God.”
What Is the Origin of the Name Adriel?
As such a religious name, it’s unsurprising to know that Adriel is biblical. Adriel was a nobleman in the Kingdom of Israel, son of Barzillai the Meholathite. Past this, there is a bit of murk to the true origin of the individual.
In 1 Samuel 18:19, Saul of the United Kingdom of Israel married his daughter, Merab, to Adriel (1). Another biblical passage suggests that it was the daughter Michal that was married to Adriel, giving him five sons.
However, another biblical passage states that Michal was barren and married to King David instead of Adriel. Oftentimes, this discrepancy is dismissed by saying that she “brought up” the five sons, meaning she raised them for Adriel without birthing them.
Furthermore, this issue is resolved by the theory that Merab being Adriel’s wife was simply a typo. In this context, scholars attribute the discrepancy to a simple copy error, misspelling, or miswriting (2).
How Popular Is the Name Adriel?
In the United States, Adriel is a very popular name. In 2021, the name was 154th, according to data collected by the Social Security Administration (3).
However, that high mark was a drop in popularity. The year before, Adriel was the 140th most popular, showing a drop of 14 places.
How Do I Pronounce Adriel?
The American pronunciation often emphasizes the “A.” In this pronunciation, one would say “ay-dree-uhl,” a three-syllable name.
The Hebrew pronunciation is very similar. However, the emphasis switches to “ad-” rather than only “a-.” In this form, the name is pronounced: “add-ree-uhl.”
Is Adriel a Boy or Girl Name?
Traditionally, Adriel is a masculine name. The namesake is a male, making it typical for families to use the name for male children.
However, in Hebrew, the name does not have a masculine meaning. In a sense, it is much more unisex than it might appear.
Variations of Adriel
Adriel has many variations that span across different genders, mostly with Hebrew origins. Here are the most common similar names to Adriel:
- Adonis (Greek)
- Asaiah (Hebrew)
- Ariel (Hebrew)
- Azrael (Hebrew)
- Azriel (Hebrew)
- Hadriel (Hebrew)
- Ilya (Slavic)
- Junia (Greek)
- Uriel (Hebrew)
- Zora (Hebrew)
Nicknames for Adriel
Adriel doesn’t have too many nicknames given how short of a name it is. Nevertheless, there are several options to vary up Adriel, including:
- Ad
- Adi
- Addi
- Addie
- Addy
- Adri
Similar Names to Adriel
Many of the variations of Adriel are used as similar names, but there are plenty of others. Some of the most choices, many of which also have a biblical origin:
- Abriel
- Adiel
- Alpheus
- Arial
- Aziel
- Azriel
- Elian
- Hosanna
- Isaiah
- Izack
Middle Names for Adriel
Many of the middle names that pair well with Adriel are religious. Due to this, any biblical name that fits the gender of your child is a great choice for a middle name. Consider the following options:
- Aaron
- Abel
- Abiel
- Adina Adna
- Abraham
- Matthew
- Medan
- Moses
- Nathaniel
- Nethaniah
Sibling Names for Adriel
Similar to middle names, sibling names are often religious. It’s worth avoiding the names Michal and Merab, given their relationship in biblical stories. Otherwise, consider choosing a theme that takes inspiration from the Bible:
For a brother:
- Elisha
- Ezra
- Gideon
- Jonathan
- Omri
- Tobias
For a sister:
- Delilah
- Noa
- Phoebe
- Sapphira
- Tamar
- Tziporah
Famous People Named Adriel
As the name has only become popular relatively recently, there aren’t many famous figures named Adriel. Still, here are some of the few that you can find:
- Adriel Cruz: Rapper who goes by the stage name of Skrip.
- Adriel Diaz: American rapper and musician.
- Adriel Favela: Mexican multi-instrumentalist and musician born in San Francisco, California.
- Adriel Genet: French-born American musician known for the band Burn the Ballroom.
- Adriel “A. J.” Green: American NFL wide receiver.
- Adriel de Menezes: Brazilian rapper also known by the name AdR.
- Adriel Susanteo: Indonesian singer born in the late 1990s.
Adriel in Popular Culture
As the name is not exceptionally popular, finding it in popular culture is difficult. Nevertheless, there have been several appearances by the name, including a television series and multiple books:
- Adriel: Imagined as an angel in the Netflix series “Warrior Nun.”
- Adriel: Character in the “Academy of Magical Creatures” by Megan Linski and Alicia Rades.
- Adriel: Character in Ghost Shadow: A Moon Shadow by Maria Schneider.
- Adriel: Character in “The Apprentice, The Swordsman, and The Impossible Mission.”
Adriel FAQs
With so much information, there are still a few questions to think about! Here are three of the most frequently asked questions regarding Adriel.
Is Adriel Only a Religious Name?
Naturally, it’s a name with heavy religious connotations. You can often find the name Adriel in religious families, but it is far from exclusively used by those who are religious.
Indeed, some cultures have used Adriel without any biblical connection. In Navajo, for example, Adriel is a male name meaning “Symbol of Skill.”
Is Adriel a Spanish Name?
Adriel is not typically seen as a Spanish boy name. However, due to a deep history of Christianity and Catholicism, it may have a higher frequency in Spanish than in other languages.
Is Adriel a Good Name?
Adriel is a versatile name with a strong history. It is potential unisex and can be both religious and secular. Moreover, despite being biblical, Adriel is rare enough that it has a modern and original feel.
