Gabriel is a male given name of Hebrew origin, meaning "God is my strength". It is derived from the Hebrew name Gavri'el, which is composed of the elements "gab" meaning "strength" and "El" meaning "God".
The name Gabriel has been popular throughout history due to its biblical associations. In the Bible, Gabriel is an archangel who appears in both the Old and New Testaments. He is mentioned as a messenger of God, delivering important messages such as foretelling the birth of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ.
In Islamic tradition, Gabriel is also considered one of the four archangels, known as Jibreel or Gabriel. He is revered as the angel who brought revelations from Allah to the Prophet Muhammad through the angelic visitations that resulted in the Quran.
The name Gabriel has been adopted by various cultures throughout history, appearing in different forms such as Gabriel, Gabriël, Gavriil, and others. It has also inspired numerous variations of the name, including Gabe, Gabby, Gabrielle, and Gabrielle.
Overall, the name Gabriel is associated with divine strength, spirituality, and heavenly messengers. Its biblical and historical significance makes it a popular choice for parents looking to give their child a meaningful and powerful name.
The given statistics illustrate the annual birth occurrences of the name Gabriel in the United States from 1976 to 2018. During this period, the popularity of the name varied significantly.
In the early years, between 1976 and 1993, the number of babies named Gabriel was relatively low, ranging from 5 to 10 births per year. However, starting in 1995, there was a notable increase in the popularity of the name, with more than 10 babies being named Gabriel each year.
The peak in popularity for the name Gabriel occurred between 2002 and 2009, during which time there were consistently high numbers of births each year. In 2009, the number of babies named Gabriel reached its peak at 19 births.
After 2009, the popularity of the name began to decline slightly, but it remained relatively stable, with an average of around 8-12 births per year between 2010 and 2016. In recent years, from 2017 to 2018, the number of babies named Gabriel has continued to fluctuate, with 5 births each year.
In total, over the course of these four decades, there were 235 babies named Gabriel in the United States. This data provides insight into the trends and fluctuations in the popularity of the name Gabriel over time.