NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Biel

A name of uncertain meaning, possibly derived from the Galician word "belo" meaning "fair" or "good".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2020. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Biel is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Biel popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2020 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4608, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2017, with 6 births.

This profile covers 15 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2017 to 2020. 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 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 15 living people in the UK are called Biel. 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 2021 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Biel ranked #4608 for boys in England and Wales in 2020, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2017, when 6 boys were registered as Biel.
  • About 15 living people in the UK are estimated to have Biel as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4608

2020

Births in 2020

3

Latest year

Peak year

2017

6 births

Estimated living

15

2026

Meaning

What does Biel mean?

The name Biel has its origins in the Hebrew language and culture. It is derived from the Hebrew word "bayit," which means "house" or "home." The name Biel is believed to have emerged as a shortened form of the Hebrew name "Bethuel," which translates to "House of God."

In ancient times, the name Biel was commonly used among the Israelites and other Semitic peoples residing in the regions of ancient Israel and the surrounding areas. It was a name often given to children with the hope that they would grow up to be righteous individuals and establish a godly household.

The earliest recorded mention of the name Biel can be traced back to the Book of Genesis in the Hebrew Bible. In Genesis 24, Bethuel is mentioned as the son of Nahor and the father of Rebekah, who later became the wife of Isaac, one of the patriarchs of the Israelites.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Biel. One of the earliest recorded was Biel of Ventadorn, a renowned troubadour and poet who lived in the 12th century in the region of Limousin, France. He was known for his lyrical compositions and his contributions to the development of courtly love poetry.

Another prominent figure was Biel Gabrielovich Bielski, a Polish Jew who led a remarkable group of Jewish partisans during World War II. Bielski and his brothers organized a camp in the Belarusian forests, providing refuge and protection for over 1,200 Jews who escaped the Nazi persecution. His bravery and leadership were instrumental in saving countless lives during the Holocaust.

In the realm of art, Biel Mesquida was a Spanish painter and sculptor who lived from 1675 to 1737. He was renowned for his religious artworks and his contributions to the Baroque style that flourished in Spain during that period.

Biel Knjazewski, born in 1906 and died in 1991, was a notable Polish writer and journalist. He was a prominent figure in the Polish literary scene and wrote numerous novels, short stories, and essays that explored themes of social and political commentary.

Lastly, Biel Gátan was a Mexican artist and muralist who lived from 1892 to 1983. He was known for his large-scale murals that depicted scenes from Mexican history and culture, and his works can be found adorning public buildings and institutions across Mexico.

These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who carried the name Biel, each making their mark in their respective fields and contributing to the cultural and historical legacy of this ancient name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Biel over time

The chart below shows babies named Biel registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2017 to 2020. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Biel, the clearest high point is 2017. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2020, compared with 6 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Biel
02356201720182020

Decades

Biel by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Biel 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 #4608 3 1
2010s #3026 12 2

Related

Names similar to Biel

FAQ

Biel: questions and answers

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

In 2020, Biel was ranked #4608 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Biel most popular?

The peak year on record was 2017, with 6 babies registered as Biel in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Biel?

A name of uncertain meaning, possibly derived from the Galician word "belo" meaning "fair" or "good".

How many people are called Biel in the UK?

A total of 15 babies have been registered as Biel across the 3 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.