Azrael
Top 1000
About Azrael
This is the name of Angel of Death in Jewish and Muslim tradition, but that isn't putting contemporary parents off. With its cool letter Z and popular -ael ending, Azrael has been in the US Top 1000 since 2019 and has continued to rise since then.
Deriving from the Hebrew azar and el meaning "help" and "God", Azrael can meaning "my help is God" or "help of God", which may help some parents see beyond its links to death — although that might be exactly what appeals about it for others.
Given to 354 baby boys in 2024, when combined with the popularity of Asriel, Aziel and Azael, it might feel even more popular than it already is.
Pronounced AHZ-ray-el.
As of October 2026, Azrael ranked #656 in US births in 2025 SSA.
Editor: Pamela Redmond
Sources: US popularity data is from the Social Security Administration. Meanings and origins are from Nameberry's name references.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank | Births | Per million |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #2,318 | 56 | 29.2 |
| 2015 | #2,134 | 65 | 33.9 |
| 2016 | #1,501 | 113 | 59.5 |
| 2017 | #1,351 | 132 | 71.3 |
| 2018 | #1,234 | 150 | 82.6 |
| 2019 | #953 | 225 | 125.4 |
| 2020 | #928 | 240 | 139 |
| 2021 | #839 | 283 | 161.8 |
| 2022 | #731 | 355 | 203.3 |
| 2023 | #684 | 394 | 230.3 |
| 2024 | #735 | 354 | 205.5 |
| 2025 | #656 | 421 | 246.5 |
World rankings
Similar names
These 20 names were selected by our users looking for other names like Azrael.
- Araz
- Dion
- Cassiel
- Adonis
- Regulus
- Aurelio
- Acacius
- Shaena
- Helios
- Castiel
- Altair
- Aziel
- Abraxas
- Morpheus
- Azazel
- Ares
- Castor
- Azriel
- Valerian
- Eros
Azrael on lists
Famous Azraels
- Abu Azrael
nom de guerre of Ayyub Faleh al,Rubaie, Iraqi Shi'a fighting ISIL
Azrael in pop culture
- "Asrael
" opera by Alberto Franchetti, Based on the old Flemish legend, Asrael falls in love with another angel called Nefta, loses her, and finally is reunited with her in Heaven
- Azrael
the death of the universe in Terry Pratchett's Discworld series
- Azrael
character in DC Comics
- Commander Azrael
character in tabletop game "Warhammer 40,000"
- Muruta Azrael
villain in anime "Mobile Suit Gundam SEED"
- Azrael
character in film "Dogma"
- Rabbi Azrael
a main character in "The Dybbuk" by S. Ansky
- Azrael
cat in The Smurfs series