UK boy's name
Arel
A masculine Hebrew name meaning "lion of God".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Arel is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Arel popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2088, with 11 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2023, with 12 births.
This profile covers 90 England and Wales registrations across 13 recorded years from 2010 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 92% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 90 living people in the UK are called Arel. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Arel ranked #2088 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 11 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2023, when 12 boys were registered as Arel.
- • About 90 living people in the UK are estimated to have Arel as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2088
2024
Births in 2024
11
Latest year
Peak year
2023
12 births
Estimated living
90
2026
Meaning
What does Arel mean?
The name Arel has its origins in the Armenian language and culture, with roots dating back to the medieval period. Arel is derived from the Armenian word "ar," meaning "man" or "warrior," and the suffix "-el," which is a diminutive form. The name was commonly used among Armenians during the Middle Ages, particularly in regions such as historic Armenia and the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Arel can be found in the Armenian epic poem "Daredevils of Sassoun," which dates back to the 8th century AD. In this epic, Arel is depicted as a brave warrior and one of the central characters. The name also appears in various Armenian manuscripts and historical records from the medieval period.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Arel. One of the most famous was Arel Tarkhanyan (1881-1951), an Armenian painter and art critic who played a significant role in the development of modern Armenian art. Another notable figure was Arel Babajanyan (1920-1993), a renowned Armenian composer and pianist who made significant contributions to classical music.
In the realm of literature, Arel Darbinyan (1924-2004) was a prominent Armenian writer and playwright, known for his works that explored the human experience and Armenian identity. Additionally, Arel Poghosyan (1923-2008) was a respected Armenian educator and author who made significant contributions to the field of pedagogy.
Another noteworthy individual was Arel Demirgian (1914-2005), an Armenian-American architect and urban planner who played a pivotal role in the development of several major cities in the United States, including Detroit and Los Angeles.
While the name Arel is not as common today as it once was, it remains a part of the rich cultural heritage of the Armenian people, with a long and storied history that spans centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Arel over time
The chart below shows babies named Arel registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2010 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Arel, the clearest high point is 2023. The latest England and Wales figure is 11 births in 2024, compared with 12 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Arel by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Arel was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #2133 | 51 | 5 |
| 2010s | #3527 | 39 | 8 |
Related
Names similar to Arel
- Alfie 86,546
- Alexander 85,525
- Adam 71,855
- Archie 59,965
- Arthur 43,586
- Aaron 36,366
- Alex 32,729
- Andrew 20,169
- Arlo 19,061
- Aidan 16,776
- Albie 16,017
- Albert 15,809
FAQ
Arel: questions and answers
How popular is the name Arel in the UK right now?
In 2024, Arel was ranked #2088 for boys in England and Wales, with 11 births registered.
When was Arel most popular?
The peak year on record was 2023, with 12 babies registered as Arel in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Arel?
A masculine Hebrew name meaning "lion of God".
How many people are called Arel in the UK?
A total of 90 babies have been registered as Arel across the 13 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.