Given name & surname
Lael
“one who belongs to God”
Lael is used as a given name and a surname. One Hebrew interpretation is “one who belongs to God.”
Original Hebrewלאל
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Hebrew interpretation is “one who belongs to God.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Hebrew.
How it developed
From the Hebrew prefix le (ל), “onto,” and the Hebrew word 'el (אל), “God.”
From biblical name research
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1895. 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 Lael appears in Numbers 3:24.
From biblical name research
Lael through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 3,526
- 1,166 boys · 2,360 girls
- Most popular year
- 2025
- 255 babies
- 2025
- 255
- #1,264 for boys · #1,952 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +63%
- Rising fast
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 49% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 156 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 1,264 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 114.1% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. It also appeared in 99 birth records for girls in 2025. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (24). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,375 as a first name in 2020; 278 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Lael’s family of names
Lael has a related form in Lale. Lael has a related form in Layle. Lael has a related form in Laele.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 9
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Lalevariant
- Laellevariant
- Laylevariant
- Llaellikely variant
- Laelllikely variant
- Laylvariant
- Laelevariant
- Lailevariant
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People named Lael
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Lael, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Shalom
“one who is peaceful” · “a peaceful man”
68% boys · 32% girls
Seraphim
“the burning ones; heavenly winged angels”
43% boys · 57% girls
Rama
“one who is exalted”
39% boys · 61% girls
Lowen
49% boys · 51% girls
Layne
“one who takes the narrow path”
66% boys · 34% girls
Laine
“one who takes the narrow path”
36% boys · 64% girls
Yael
“having the strength of God” · “strength of God”
65% boys · 35% girls
Arden
“one who is passionate and enthusiastic” · “from the valley of the eagles”
40% boys · 60% girls