NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Azrael

Angel of death or servant of God in Islam and some Hebrew writings.

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.

Azrael is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Azrael popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2921, with 7 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2023, with 9 births.

This profile covers 52 England and Wales registrations across 10 recorded years from 2013 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 78% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 52 living people in the UK are called Azrael. 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

  • Azrael ranked #2921 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 7 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2023, when 9 boys were registered as Azrael.
  • About 52 living people in the UK are estimated to have Azrael as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#2921

2024

Births in 2024

7

Latest year

Peak year

2023

9 births

Estimated living

52

2026

Meaning

What does Azrael mean?

The name Azrael has its origins in ancient Hebrew and Arabic languages. It is derived from the Hebrew words "Ezra" meaning "helper" and "El" meaning "God", thus translating to "Helper of God". In Arabic, the name is written as "Azrail" and is associated with the Angel of Death in Islamic theology.

The earliest known reference to the name Azrael comes from the Talmud, a central text of Judaism. In the Talmud, Azrael is depicted as the Angel of Death, responsible for the separation of the soul from the body. This concept is also present in Islamic tradition, where Azrael is believed to be the name of the Angel of Death tasked with overseeing the process of death.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Azrael was Azrael ben Elijah, a renowned Jewish scholar who lived in Spain during the 12th century. He was a prominent figure in the Jewish community and made significant contributions to the study of the Talmud and Jewish law.

In the 13th century, Azrael ben Joseph was a Jewish philosopher and commentator on the works of Maimonides, a renowned medieval Jewish philosopher and scholar. Azrael ben Joseph's writings and interpretations of Maimonides' works were widely respected and studied in Jewish scholarly circles.

During the Renaissance period, Azrael Bem was a German painter and engraver who lived in the 16th century. His works, which often depicted religious themes and scenes from the Bible, were highly regarded and can be found in various art collections throughout Europe.

In the 19th century, Azrael Gómez was a prominent Mexican poet and activist who played a significant role in the literary and cultural movements of his time. His poetry often celebrated the richness of Mexican culture and addressed social and political issues of the era.

Another notable figure was Azrael Penavaire, a French explorer and adventurer who lived in the early 20th century. He was known for his daring expeditions and travels across remote regions of Africa and Asia, and his accounts of these journeys were widely published and read during his time.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have borne the name Azrael throughout history, each leaving their mark in various fields and disciplines. The name's connection to the concept of death and the Angel of Death in religious traditions has undoubtedly contributed to its unique and enduring presence across different cultures and time periods.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Azrael over time

The chart below shows babies named Azrael registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2013 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 Azrael, the clearest high point is 2023. The latest England and Wales figure is 7 births in 2024, compared with 9 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Azrael
02579201320182024

Decades

Azrael by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Azrael 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 #3172 32 5
2010s #4076 20 5

Related

Names similar to Azrael

FAQ

Azrael: questions and answers

How popular is the name Azrael in the UK right now?

In 2024, Azrael was ranked #2921 for boys in England and Wales, with 7 births registered.

When was Azrael most popular?

The peak year on record was 2023, with 9 babies registered as Azrael in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Azrael?

Angel of death or servant of God in Islam and some Hebrew writings.

How many people are called Azrael in the UK?

A total of 52 babies have been registered as Azrael across the 10 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.