Meaning & origin
What it means
As a biblical name, Azel means “proximity.”
From biblical name research
Where it comes from
Azel is a biblical name from Hebrew.
From biblical name research
How it developed
From the Hebrew verb 'asal (אצל), “to approximate.”
From biblical name research
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1900. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
In the Bible
In the Bible, the name Azel appears in 1 Chronicles 8:37, Zechariah 14:5, Micah 1:11.
- 1 Chronicles 8:37
- Zechariah 14:5
- Micah 1:11
From biblical name research
Azel through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 558
- 470 boys · 88 girls
- Most popular year
- 2023
- 43 babies
- 2025
- 26
- #4,062 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +21%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 26 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 4,062 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 46.5% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (8). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 451 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Azel’s family of names
See also 3
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
Similar names
If you love Azel, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Axel
“source of life; small oak” · “axe”
>99% boys
Abel
“the life force; breath”
>99% boys
Ananias
“Yah has been gracious” · “graciously given of Yah”
>99% boys
Asa
“doctor, healer” · “born in the morning”
89% boys · 11% girls
Barnabas
“son of consolation” · “the son of the prophet; the son of encouragement”
>99% boys
Eleazar
“God will help”
>99% boys
Ozias
“power of Yah” · “Yah is strong”
>99% boys
Elnathan
“God has given”
>99% boys