Aurel is an ancient Roman male given name, derived from the Latin word 'aureus', meaning 'golden'. The name gained popularity during the Roman Empire and was often used to denote someone of noble birth or golden-haired. It has since been adopted by various cultures around the world, with notable figures such as the Romanian prince Aurel Popovic and the French poet Aurélien Rugamba bearing this name.
The name Aurel experienced varying popularity over the century, with peaks in the early 1920s and a recent resurgence in the late 2010s.