Raphael, Michael, Daniel, Ezekiel, Emmanuel, Ariel etc. -The Hebrew Sources Of Many Personal Names That End With "El" (information & name meanings)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post presents some general information about the Hebrew sources of some personal names that end with the suffix "el".

The meanings of these featured names are included in this post.

The content of this post is presented for onomastics and cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.  

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
I was motivated to learn more about "el" ending names after it occurred to me that the 
first name for the United States Senator Raphael Warnock and the first name for his defeated opponent Herschel Walker both ended in "el". I added more information about those names in the comment section for this pancocojams post.

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ONLINE EXCERPTS ABOUT THE HEBREW SOURCE OF PERSONAL (GIVEN) NAMES ENDING WITH THE SUFFIX "EL"

These excerpts are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.

EXCERPT #1
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theophory_in_the_Bible#Shaddai_theophory
"Theophory is the practice of embedding the name of a god or a deity in, usually, a proper name.[note 1] Much Hebrew theophory occurs in the Bible, particularly in the Old Testament. The most prominent theophory involves names referring to:

El, a word meaning might, power and (a) god in general, and hence in Judaism, God and among the Canaanites the name of the god who was the father of Baal.

Yah, a shortened form of Yahweh.

[...]

El theophory

The following is an alphabetical list of names referring to El and their meanings in Hebrew:

Abdiel – Servant of God 

Abiel – God my Father

Abimael – A Father sent from God 

Adbeel – Disciplined of God[1]  

Adiel – Witness of God

Adirael – Magnificence of God

Adriel – Flock of God

Advachiel – Happiness of God

Ambriel – Energy of God

Ammiel – People of God

Ariel, Auriel – Lion of God

Armisael – Mountain of Judgment of God

Azael – Whom God Strengthens

Azazel – God Strengthens or Arrogant to God

Azrael – Help of God

Barakiel, Baraquiel – Lightning of God

Barachiel, Bardiel – Kindness of God or Ray of God

Bethel – House of God

Betzalel – Shadow/Path of God

Bithiel – Daughter of God

Boel – God is in Him

Chakel – Wisdom of God

Chamuel – He who Seeks God

Cassiel – Speed of God or God is my anger

Castiel - My Cover is God

Denzel – Fortress of God

Daniel – Judged by God or Judgement of God

Elad – God Forever

Eliana – My God Answers

Elijah (Elias) – Whose God is Jah, God Jah, The Strong[dubious – discuss] Jah, God of Jah, My God is Jah. Reference to the meaning of both (Eli)-(Jah)

Elisha – Salvation of God

Elishama – My God Hears

Elishua – God is my salvation

Eliezer – My God Helps

Elimelech – My God is King

Elizabeth – My God is Oath

Elkanah – God has Possessed, or God has Created

Emmanuel – God is with us

Ezekiel – God will Strengthen

Ezequeel – Strength of God

Ezrael – Help of God[2]

Gabriel, Gavriel – Man of God, God has shown Himself Mighty, Hero of God or Strong one of God

Gaghiel – Roaring Beast of God

Gamaliel – Reward of God

Hamaliel – Grace of God

Hanael – Glory of God

Harel – Mountain of God

Isabel – God is my oath

Immanuel – God with us

Imriel – Eloquence of God

Iruel – Fear of God

Ishmael, Ishamael – Heard by God, Named by God, or God Hearkens

Israel, Yisrael – Struggles with God or Prince of God

Jekuthiel – God will support

Jerahmeel – God's exaltation

Jeremiel – God's mercy

Jezreel – God will sow

Joel – Jah is God

Jegudiel – Glorifier of God

Katriel – Crown of God

Kazbiel – He who lies to God

Kushiel – Rigid One of God

Lee-El, Lee-el, Leeel – For God

Leliel – Jaws of God

Lemuel – Dedicated to God

Mahalalel – The blessed God, The shining light of God, or The glory of God

Malahidael – King of God

Matarael – Premonition of God

Michael – Who is like God? a question

Mishael – Who is what God is? a question

Nathanael, Nathaniel – Given by God or God has Given or "Gift of God"

Nemuel – Day of God

Othniel – Hour of God

Peniel, Penuel, Phanuel – Face of God

Priel – Fruit of God

Rachmiel – God is my Comforter

Ramiel/Remiel – Thunder of God

Raphael – God is Healing or Healing one of God

Raziel – Secret of God

Rameel – Mercy of God or Compassion of God

Reuel – Friend of God

Sachiel – Price of God or Covering of God

Sahaquiel – Ingenuity of God

Samael – Venom of God

Samiel – Blind God, epithet for Baal or the Demiurge

Samuel – Name/Heard of God

Sariel – Command of God

Sealtiel – Intercessor of God

Shamsiel – Lonely Conqueror of God

Shealtiel – I asked God [for this child]

Suriel – Moon of God

Tamiel – Perfection of God

Tarfiel – God Nourishes

Tzaphkiel – Beholder of God

Tzaphquiel – Contemplation of God

Uriel – Sun of God, Light of God or Fire of God

Uzziel – Power from God

Verchiel – Shining of God

Yophiel – Beauty of God

Za'afiel – Wrath of God

Zadkiel – Righteousness of God (rabbinic)

Zagzagel – Splendor of God

Zaphkiel – Knowledge of God

Zeruel – Arm of God

Zophiel – Watchman of God

Zuriel – Rock of God

Incorrect El theophory

The name Abel, which appears to refer to El, in fact is not an instance of theophory. Abel can be translated as "breath", "temporary" or "meaninglessness" and is the word translated as "vanity" in Ecclesiastes 1:2 in the King James Version.

The name Jael also appears to refer to El in English, but contains ayin rather than the aleph of El.

The name Eli also appears to refer to El in English, but contains ayin rather than aleph.

The name Rachel also appears to refer to El in English, but contains chet."...

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EXCERPT #2

These are selected comments from this discussion thread. I've assigned numbers to these comments for referencing purposes only. 

From https://www.quora.com/Why-do-archangel-names-all-have-el-at-the-end-of-their-names-What-does-el-mean
1. Martin McEvoy, 2019
"Why do archangel names all have “el” at the end of their names? What does “el” mean?

 “El” pronounced “ilu” is the ancient Semitic name of God, it literally translates as God.

 Angels in general, not just Archangels have “el” on the end of their names because they are described as either “Of God” or “Sons of God”, here are a few common angel names and their translation;

 Gabriel: Gavri'el which translates as “Strength of God” or “God is my Strength”.

Uriel: Uri'el which translates as “Light of God” or “God is my light”.

Michael: Micka'el which translates as “Like God” or “who is like God”.

Raphael: Rafa'el which translates as “God Heals” or “God who Heals”.

Gadreel: Gader Ha-el (a fallen angel) which translates as “Wall of God”.

Most angel names, even the fallen ones have “el” on the end of their names, there are a few “special” angels (mostly fallen) that don't."...

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2. Mark Johansen, 2019

" "El" is a short version of the Hebrew word for God. It's not just angels who have "el" as part of their names, other people in the Bible do also. Hebrew names routinely meant something, they weren't just an arrangement of sound that the parents thought sounded nice.

Some examples:

Ezekiel: "God will strengthen"

Michael: "Who is like God?"

Israel: "May God prevail"

Daniel: "God is my judge"

Etc.

Many Hebrew names also end in "yah", which is short for God's name, Jehovah or Yahweh. These are often harder to see in English translations because the "yah" gets mashed up a bit, but some examples are:

Elijah: "My God is Jehovah"

Isaiah: "Jehovah is my salvation"

Jeremiah: "Jehovah as lifted me up"

Micah (in Hebrew it's pronounced more like "Mikahyah"): "Who is like Jehovah?"

Etc."

**
3. Shawn Murphy, 2021
"Martin McEvoy does a good job of explaining the meaning of ‘el’ in the names of some of the archangels.

[A portion of Martin McEvoy's comment that is given above.is quoted here.] 

What I would like to add is the notion of time. For immortal beings, the names used to refer to them can change over time based on their service. The clear example of this is Lucifer, who was referred to from his birth Uriel. Over time, his work for the King gained him the title as the light bearer or the morning star, because next to King, he was the nobelest in Heaven. But, over time, this went to his head, and he got the idea to become the second king of Heaven through his pride. Once he started his rebellion, he was since known as the adversary - Satan.

The other two fallen archangels name’s before the rebellion are not known. They were the soulmates of Gabriel and Michael.

The names Gabriel, Michael, Raphael and Uriel were give during that the same timeframe. They refer to four of the seven spirits (or flames) of God as shown in the Menorah.

The three fallen archangels names are many, depending on the timeframe and culture that named them. I use three of the Greek names above (Poseidon, Aphrodite and Athena), but these three have many names. The Bible refers to them as Lucifer, Aholah and Aholibiah."
-snip-
The words in italics were given that way in this comment.

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EXCERPT #3

These are selected comments from this discussion thread. I've assigned numbers to these comments for referencing purposes only. 

From https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-naming-convention-for-Hebrew-Biblical-names-ending-in-el-Gabriel-Samael-Azrael-etc-and-what-are-their-meanings
1. Amir E. Aharoni
B.A. in Hebrew, lives in Israel, 2015
"Originally Answered: What is/was the naming convention for Hebrew/Biblical names ending in -el (Gabriel, Samael, Azrael, etc)? What are the meanings of those names? Could you provide a list of similar names?

"El" means "God" or "Power" in Hebrew. It is common element in many names in the Bible, and also in the modern Hebrew language. Because of the major influence that the Bible had on many of the world's cultures, such names became common in many languages - French, Russian, English, German and others.

There many dozens of names that use "El", but I'll just give a few examples:

Gabriel - God is my man (in the sense of "strong man", "hero")

Samael - God is my drug (this one is from Talmud, not Bible)

Azrael (or Azriel) - God is my help (this one is also not from the Bible, but from later Jewish books. In the form of "Azriel" this name is still used among Jews.)

Daniel - God is my judge

Ariel - God-lion

Israel - (he) strives with God (see Jacob wrestling with the angel)

It can also come in the beginning:

Elishama - My God has heard

Eliyahu (also written as Elijah or Elias in English) - He is my God

There are many more names of this kind."

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2. Jonathan Orr-Stav
Hebrew-English translator, author of "Aleph Through the Looking Glass", 2015
"Originally Answered: What is/was the naming convention for Hebrew/Biblical names ending in -el (Gabriel, Samael, Azrael, etc)? What are the meanings of those names? Could you provide a list of similar names?

In addition to the fairly comprehensive replies from Martin and the others, I would add only that El was the name of God of the northern Israelite tribes (Ephraim/Benjamin and northwards), while the southern tribes (Judah-Shimon) followed the Jehovah tradition, which meant that they tended to use names that began with "Jo" (or "Jeho") such as Joseph, or end with "-iah" or "-(e.g. Isaiah, Ezekiah, Adonijah, etc. —or indeed, both (Josiah)."...

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EXCERPT #4

These are selected comments from this discussion thread. I've assigned numbers to these comments for referencing purposes only. 

From https://www.quora.com/Why-are-there-female-versions-of-the-Hebrew-names-Daniel-and-Gabriel-Daniella-and-Gabriella-but-there-is-no-Ezekiella-or-Nathaniella-or-Emanuella
1. Shayn M., 2021
I once studied to become a rabbi. I quit. I know my way around Tanach* though,2021
"Originally Answered: Why are there female versions of the Torah language of Hebrew names Daniel and Gabriel (Daniella and Gabriella), but there is no Ezekiella or Nathaniella or Emmanuella?

The feminine versions of Biblical names (none of these are in the Torah) do not come from Hebrew but were invented by speakers of other languages after the fact.

 The feminine versions were adopted basically because people liked them. Names like “Daniela”, “Gabriela” and “(E)Manuela” (which, despite the assumptions of the OP does exist, especially in the French form “Emanuelle”) sounded more appealing presumably than “Ezekiella”, “Nathaniella” or the like.

 None of these names work in Hebrew by the way, all these names are the invention of gentiles speaking Romance languages. I believe their choices were most likely guided primarily by aesthetics."
-snip-
"Tanach" is another way of spelling "Tanakh". Here's some information about the word Tanakh fromhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebrew_Bible
"The Hebrew Bible or Tanakh[a] (/tɑːˈnɑːx/;[1] Hebrew: תָּנָ״ךְ‎ Tānāḵh), also known in Hebrew as Miqra (/miːˈkrɑː/;[1] Hebrew: מִקְרָא‎ Mīqrā), is the canonical collection of Hebrew scriptures, including the Torah, the Nevi'im, and the Ketuvim. Different branches of Judaism and Samaritanism have maintained different versions of the canon"...

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2. Susan Krakowsky
M.A. in Near Eastern Languages, Ph.D. in Mass Communication,2021
"Originally Answered: Why are there female versions of the Torah language of Hebrew names Daniel and Gabriel (Daniella and Gabriella), but there is no Ezekiella or Nathaniella or Emmanuella?

Those “female versions” (Daniella and Gabriella), are English, not Hebrew. English speakers made them up. You want to make up a name Ezekiella? Go for it."

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