For several years, a small, discreet male first name has been gaining ground in French civil status statistics. Given less than 50 times a year, it remains a real rare boy namebut its curve straightens out clearly in the INSEE First Name File. To the point that specialized sites already place it among the first name trends 2025.
This first name is Abriel. Almost invisible for a long time, it now brings together, according to INSEE data, nearly 370 to 376 cumulative births in France, with a peak of 45-46 babies in 2022. A gentle but continuous progression, driven both by its sense of spring, its sound close to Gabriel and the search for moderate originality among many parents.
Abriel: a rare first name whose popularity is growing quickly
The INSEE First Name File has recorded births since 1900. Its data shows that around 255 little Abriels have been born over the last ten years, compared to 115 over the previous ten. In 2024, Abriel was chosen for 35 boys, then for 15 births in 2025, which confirms that the trend is not declining.
However, the first name appeared in 2007 with only 6 births since that date. The difference is explained by the method: INSEE only publishes the figures when a minimum threshold is reached, and the sites which use its file then complete the missing years. As a result, parents sometimes read divergent totals while the general dynamic remains the same: Abriel remains rare, but he is increasing.
Origin and meaning of the first name Abriel, between April and angels
Of Celtic origin, Abriel means “one who was born in April”. This first name is also presented as a derivative of Gabriel, itself formed from the Hebrew elements “gabor” and “el” which mean “strength of God”. This double reading nourishes the image of a
angelic first name and bright, perfectly in keeping with the idea of spring renewal.
Abriel is therefore located at the crossroads of Gabriel and Ariel, two first names associated with angels in Christian and Jewish tradition. The first refers to the messenger of God in the New Testament, the second to an angel sometimes described as fallen. Together, they give a sweet, almost musical first name, often described as worn by sensitive boys, attentive to others and very focused on those close to them.
Why the name Abriel speaks to today’s parents
If Abriel is attracting more and more families, it is because it remains very rare while being easy to pronounce and reminiscent of Gabriel, which reassures those around him. Abriel is celebrated on September 29, like Gabriel. Parents can also opt for the Abryel, Abriehl or Abrielle variants, and character portraits often speak of a gentle, sensitive child who gains confidence as he grows up.