Gabriel
Hebrew, "God is my strength"
Gabriel is one of the most classic and accessible angel names — second only to Michael — and certainly more so than newly-trending names like Azrael and Castiel.
It’s a cool name with pan-European style: Gabriel is the most popular boy name in France, and is a Top 100 name in many other countries in Europe and the Americas. Like other -iel names, it’s a popular anglo-hispanic crossover, ranking highest in US states with a large proportion of Spanish speakers (Number 37 nationally, Number 16 in New Mexico).
For me, this name feels a little mystical, calling to mind the Annunciation and the atmospheric Basque carol about this, Gabriel’s Message. It’s a little musical, like the film theme Gabriel’s oboe. And, as a Thomas Hardy fan, it’s very much about Gabriel Oak, the steadfast shepherd hero of Far From the Madding Crowd. It’s one of my son’s middle names, a little ephemeral twinkle after two more solid, heavy forenames.
My son’s middle name too, sometimes wish I could use it as a first!