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Top Boy Names Ending in L
Boy names ending in L are plentiful and wonderful.
Michael is the most popular boy name ending with L. Along with Michael, other L-ending boy names in the US Top 100 alone include Daniel, Samuel, Gabriel, Ezekiel, Axel, and Angel.
Other boy names that end with the letter L that we'd recommend include Abel, Ansel, Dashiell, Liionel, and Rafael.
Here are all Nameberry’s boy names that end with the letter L. The top names below rank among the current US Top 1000 Baby Names and are ordered by popularity. Unique names rank below the Top 1000 and are listed alphabetically.
Michael is the most popular boy name ending with L. Along with Michael, other L-ending boy names in the US Top 100 alone include Daniel, Samuel, Gabriel, Ezekiel, Axel, and Angel.
Other boy names that end with the letter L that we'd recommend include Abel, Ansel, Dashiell, Liionel, and Rafael.
Here are all Nameberry’s boy names that end with the letter L. The top names below rank among the current US Top 1000 Baby Names and are ordered by popularity. Unique names rank below the Top 1000 and are listed alphabetically.
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Michael
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"who is like God?"Description:
Michael was derived from the name Mikha’el, which comes from the rhetorical question mī kā’ēl, meaning "who is like God?" in Hebrew. In the Bible, Michael is the archangel who led the other angels to victory in a war against Satan, one of only two archangels (the other is Gabriel) recognized by Jews, Christians and Muslims alike. The widespread popularity of Michael Jackson and Michael Jordan were major contributors to its long-running success.
Daniel
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"God is my judge"Description:
Daniel was derived from the Hebrew name Daniyyel, from the elements din, meaning "judge," and ’el, "God." The Book of Daniel in the Old Testament describes the Jewish prophet’s life of captivity in Babylon and visions of the last days of Earth. Dan and Danny are common short forms of Daniel.
Samuel
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"told by God"Description:
Samuel was derived from the Hebrew name Shemu’el, meaning “told by God.” In the Old Testament, Samuel was one of the great judges and prophets of the Israelites, destined for a holy life from birth. He established the Hebrew monarchy, anointing both Saul and David as kings.
Gabriel
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"God is my strength"Description:
Gabriel was derived from the Hebrew name Gavri’el, taken from the elements gever, meaning "strong," and ’el, in reference to God. In Abrahamic religions, Gabriel is the archangel who heralded the news of Jesus' birth, and appears in Christian, Jewish and Muslim texts. He presides over Paradise, serving as the angel of mercy, life, joy, judgment, truth and dreams.
Ezekiel
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"God strengthens"Description:
Ezekiel is derived from the Hebrew name Yechezqel, composed of the elements chazaq, meaning “to strengthen,” and ’el, referring to God. Ezekiel is a prominent prophet in the Old Testament and the author of the Book of Ezekiel, predicting the fall of Jerusalem and eventual rehabilitation of Israel.
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Axel
Origin:
Scandinavian variation of AbsalomMeaning:
"father of peace"Description:
A classic in its native Scandinavia, Axel has a cool rock 'n' roll flavor in the US, thanks to Guns N' Roses' Axl Rose (born William). Axel is a popular Scandinavian form of the Biblical Absalom, who was a son of King David, and is the name of the title character of William Faulkner's Absalom, Absalom.
Angel
Origin:
Spanish and EnglishMeaning:
"angel"Description:
Angel is a perennial Hispanic boys’ name, but it was Buffy the Vampire Slayer that brought it into the Anglo-male camp, where it's now heard more frequently, though it still poses some gender confusion. Angel is very popular, and very traditionally masculine, in the Latino community.
Gael
Origin:
BretonMeaning:
"Gaelic"Description:
This cross-cultural name, found in Wales, Brittany, and Spain, is a surprise star in the U.S. in recent years, largely thanks to actor Gael Garcia Bernal. It's especially popular in Texas.
Nathaniel
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"gift of God"Description:
Nathaniel was derived from the Hebrew name Netan’el, meaning “gift of God,” composed of the elements natan, meaning “to give,” and ’el, in reference to God. The name is featured several times in the Old and New Testaments, typically spelled Nathanael. In the New Testament, Nathanael is also known by his other name, Bartholomew.
Adriel
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"God is my master"Description:
A biblical name getting wider notice.
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Maxwell
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"great stream"Description:
A happy medium between the weighty Maximilian and the laid-back Max, Maxwell is one of the most classic and attractive Scottish names. Early influences on the name's revival include Maxwell Smart of the television show, and then movie, Get Smart, and the Beatles song about Maxwell's Silver Hammer.
Emmanuel
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"God is with us"Description:
Emmanuel--spelled with one or two 'm's'-- was popular with early Jewish immigrants, until overused nickname Manny caused it to fade. Now, this important biblical name is being revived in its full glory.
Abel
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"breath"Description:
Abel, the name of Adam and Eve's unfortunate younger son, compensates with positive connotations: capable, competent, ready and willing.
Miguel
Origin:
Spanish and Portuguese variation of MichaelDescription:
Mike Tyson put a twist on his own name by naming a son Miguel. It's the first name of Cervantes, the great Spanish novelist and poet who wrote Don Quixote.
Joel
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"Jehovah is his God"Description:
In the Old Testament, Joel was one of King David's 'mighty men' and the name was taken up by the Puritans of the sixteenth century. In the mid 1960s, Joel entered the Top 100, and stayed there for about twenty years, as parents tried to jazz up and formalize old standby Joe by reviving this biblical name.
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Israel
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"he who struggles with God"Description:
Though it was used by the Puritans in the sixteenth century, the founding of the modern Jewish state in 1948 transformed Israel from a traditional favorite into an icon of Judaism.
Rafael
Origin:
Spanish variation of RaphaelMeaning:
"God has healed"Description:
Rafael is perhaps the ultimate romantic Latino name, not a bad gift to give your son. The Raphael spelling is the original Hebrew version.
Paul
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"small"Description:
To the thousands of girls who screamed the name of their favorite Beatle in the 1960s, the boys' name Paul had a thrillingly unique image, but to the rest of the world, then and now, it's a name that's so simple and yet so widely diffuse that it could belong to almost anyone. Paul is an ancient name for boys -- popular in Roman and medieval times -- that's not very fashionable now, which can work in its favor, scarcity balancing simplicity.
Khalil
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"friend"Description:
Spelled in various ways, this name was first brought into the American consciousness by the Lebanese-American poet and artist Kahlil Gibran, author of The Prophet.
Manuel
Origin:
Spanish variation of EmmanuelDescription:
A staple of Hispanic naming, the Spanish variation of the English Emmanuel.
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Leonel
Origin:
Variation of LionelDescription:
A variation of Lionel that has made slow but steady gains in recent years, perhaps helped by the resurgence of Leo.
Ismael
Origin:
Spanish variation of IshmaelDescription:
Spanish rendition of Ishmael high on the Latino hit parade.
Marshall
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"one who looks after horses"Description:
Marshall is an occupational surname, not having to do with anything military or martial, but stemming from the Norman French for someone caring for horses. It's been used as a first name since the nineteenth century and has been on the Social Security list since it started to publish its data in 1880.
Russell
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"redhead, fox-colored"Description:
One of many R- boys’ names that started as a nickname for a redhead, Russell had a measure of popularity from the early twentieth century through the 1950s. But it's now lost much of its color -- except for a few dynamic bearers, actors Russell Crowe and Russell Brand and sports stars Russell Westbrook and Russell Wilson.
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Royal
Origin:
English word nameDescription:
Even less subtle than Duke or Earl, this name is leaping up the popularity charts, probably due in part to a boost from the hit Lorde song "Royals."
Emanuel
Origin:
Spelling variation of Emmanuel, HebrewMeaning:
"God is with us"Description:
Fewer letters does not always mean easier—the traditional spelling is the one most people will recognize.
Noel
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"Christmas"Description:
Noel is British, fey, and sophisticated, connoting wit and creativity, much like namesake Noel Coward. Noel has also been a character on Felicity and Pretty Little Liars. Thanks to their association with Christmas, Noel and Noelle make ideal names for December babies and names for Christmas babies.
Uriel
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"God is my light"Description:
It's the name of an Old Testament archangel that's symbolically given to boys born during Chanukah, but the possibility of unsavory nicknames (urinal?) make the short form Uri a better bet.
Aziel
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"God is my strength"Description:
Aziel is a rarely used name that connotes zeal and may become more familiar thanks to its fashionable initial A and z in the middle.
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Raphael
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"God has healed"Description:
Raphael is a romantic archangel name that sounds both artistic and powerful. Raphael is also a great cross-cultural choice, with significance for people with both Latinate and Jewish roots, plus plenty of grounding in the English-speaking world.
Abdiel
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"servant of God"Description:
In the Bible, it's the name of an ancient prophet who was able to withstand Satan. It has gained modest attention in recent years, hitting the US Top 1000 in 2008.
Raul
Origin:
Spanish variation of RalphMeaning:
"wolf counsel"Description:
Raul and French brother Raoul are much more appealing than flat-footed daddy Ralph. Puerto Rican actor Raul Julia, who starred in the Addams Family movies, brought fame to the name before his death in 1994.
Ariel
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"lion of God"Description:
Despite its distinguished pedigree and popularity in Israel, Disney's Little Mermaid cartoonized Ariel in the US, at least in some people's minds. Short form Ari has come into prominence via the character in Entourage, plus its similarity to short, breezy Biblical names like Levi and Eli.
Saul
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"prayed for"Description:
Jewish parents in particular may be drawn to this quiet, composed name of the first king of Israel and the name of Saint Paul before his conversion. In modern times, it has been associated with Nobel Prize-winning novelist Saul Bellow. Its meaning makes it appropriate for a long-awaited child.Saul is a character in a John Dryden poem, and heard in the Handel oratorio, "Saul."
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Jaziel
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"God apportions"Description:
Jaziel and spelling variation Jahziel are unique baby names from the Bible—he was the son of Nephtali and a grandson of Jacob and Leah—that are being rediscovered by a new generation of parents in search of names that are both unusual and traditional. And that middle z adds zest and cool. It debuted in the US Top 1000 in 2015.
Dariel
Origin:
Modern invented nameDescription:
Dariel is an update to Darren, influenced by names like Gabriel.
Lionel
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"young lion"Description:
Lionel is one leonine name that hasn't taken off as cousins Leo and Leonardo have, though it did reenter the Top 1000 in 2010 after several years away; it was at its highest point in the 1920s and 1930s.
Marcel
Origin:
French variation of MarcellusMeaning:
"little warrior"Description:
Marcel, despite distinguished namesakes including Proust and Duchamp, suffers from a terminal headwaiter image in this country. But along with its sister name Marcella and French variation (and Jolie-Pitt pick) Marcheline, Marcel may be on the brink of a style renaissance.
Nathanael
Origin:
Variation of NathanielDescription:
Nathaniel is a wonderful classic name and Nathanael, which may be an ancient Greek or Hebrew form, is appealing and has gravitas but may prove needlessly confusing in the modern world.
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Mitchell
Origin:
English variation of MichaelMeaning:
"who is like God"Description:
Mitchell has had something of a roller coaster ride, showing some panache in the forties and fifties, when it was seen as a sharper alternative to Michael with its cool Mitch nickname, slipping a bit, then resurfacing in the 90s when it reached as high as Number 71. Mitchell Pritchett is one of the leading characters on the TV sitcom Modern Family.
Neil
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"cloud"Description:
Always the top spelling of the name; Neil peaked in the 1950s, but then enjoyed a second coming following the fame of such Neils as astronaut Armstrong and singers Sedaka, Diamond, and Young. Now semiretired.
Axl
Origin:
Variation of Axel, Scandinavian version of AbsalomMeaning:
"father of peace"Description:
Guns 'n' Roses musician Axl (born William) Rose created this name by dropping a vowel, a la Barbra Streisand. The traditional Axel is more popular, though celebrity parents Fergie and Josh Duhamel deliberately chose the Axl spelling to honor her rock hero.
Misael
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"as God is"Description:
Old Testament name all but unknown outside the Latino community, it is nonetheless in the US Top 1000, where it has been since 1990.
Carl
Origin:
German variation of CharlesMeaning:
"free man"Description:
This no-nonsense German variation of Charles is strong and still well used, but lacks much sensitivity or subtlety; the Latin forms have far more energy.
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Jadiel
Origin:
Spanish variation of YadielDescription:
Jadiel and Yadiel are Spanish versions of the Hebrew Yehudiel, the name of one of the archangels. It's been in the US Top 1000 since 2008, but still hovers towards the bottom.
Castiel
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"my cover is God"Description:
Castiel, which vaulted into the Top 1000 on the wings of the angel hero of the television show Supernatural, is the name of the Angel of the day Thursday. It may also derive some appeal from the newly-fashionable "Cas" syllable, as in Cassian and Cassius.
Jamal
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"beauty"Description:
Jamal is an Arabic boys’ name meaning "beauty." Jamal and its variants are popular in the Muslim community, although Jamal’s popularity within the US has decreased in recent years.
Azrael
Origin:
Hebrew, variation of AzrielMeaning:
"help of God"Description:
This is the name of Angel of Death in Jewish and Muslim tradition, not a great start for an innocent child -- or a great role model for a teenager.
Cal
Origin:
Diminutive of CalvinDescription:
A homey sitting-by-the fire-type nickname name.
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