Given name
Gamaliel
“benefit of God”·“God's reward”
Gamaliel is used as a given name. Interpretations include “benefit of God” (Hebrew) and “God's reward” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Original Hebrewגמליאל
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “benefit of God” (Hebrew) and “God's reward” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Where it comes from
A possible origin is Hebrew, although the derivation remains uncertain.
How it developed
From Middle English Gamaliel, from Late Latin Gamaliēl, from Koine Greek Γαμαλιήλ, from Aramaic גַמַלִיאיֵל (Ḡamalīʾēl), from Biblical Hebrew גַּמְלִיאֵל (Gamlīʾēl).
Adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The story
The name appears in biblical tradition, giving it a longstanding religious and cultural context.
In the Bible
In the Bible, the name Gamaliel appears in Numbers 1:10, Acts 5:34, Acts 22:3.
- Numbers 1:10
- Acts 5:34
- Acts 22:3
From biblical name research
Gamaliel through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,950
- 1,950 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 2004
- 56 babies
- 2025
- 37
- #3,208 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −3%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 37 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 3,208 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 2.6% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 56 in 2004. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (7). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,895 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.
Gamaliel’s family of names
Gamaliel has a related form in Gamalyel. Gamaliel has a related form in Gamiyel. Gamaliel has a related form in Gamlea.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 12
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Gamlielvariant
- Gammaliellikely variant
- Gamalliellikely variant
- Gamleighvariant
- Gamleavariant
- Gamleevariant
- Gamleyvariant
- Gamlyvariant
Show 4 moreShow fewer
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 3
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 2
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Gamaliel
- Gamalielfirst-century leading authority on Jewish law in the Sanhedrin100 BC–50
- Gamaliel IIactive 80-110100–114
- Gamaliel III3rd century Judean rabbi and nasi250–235
- Gamaliel VIRabbi and Prince of the Ancient Sanhedrin.370–425
- Gamaliel DíazMexican boxerborn 1981
- Gamaliel BradfordAmerican writer (1863–1932)
- Gamaliel VJewish Rabbi and Prince of the Sanhedrin.400–380
- Gamaliel KingAmerican architect and politician (1795-1875)
- Gamaliel BaileyAmerican physician, journalist, abolitionist (1807-1859)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Gamaliel, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Gabriel
“man of God” · “a hero of God”
>99% boys
Javan
“mire” · “mud man”
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Uriel
“the angel of light”
98% boys · 2% girls
Nathanael
“God has given”
>99% boys
Emmanuel
“God is with us”
>99% boys
Elnathan
“God has given”
>99% boys
Hebron
“born of the community; a good friend”
>99% boys
Abel
“the life force; breath”
>99% boys