Given name
Peniel
“face of God”
Peniel is used as a given name.
Original Hebrewפניאל
Meaning & origin
What it means
As a biblical name, Peniel means “face of God.”
From biblical name research
Where it comes from
Peniel is a biblical name from Hebrew.
From biblical name research
How it developed
From the Hebrew verb pana (פנה), “to turn,” and the Hebrew word 'el (אל), “God.”
From biblical name research
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1997. 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 Peniel appears in Genesis 32:30, Genesis 32:31, 1 Chronicles 8:25.
- Genesis 32:30
- Genesis 32:31
- 1 Chronicles 8:25
From biblical name research
Peniel through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 338
- 163 boys · 175 girls
- Most popular year
- 2020
- 25 babies
- 2025
- 9
- #10,718 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −34%
- Easing
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 9 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 10,718 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 23.8% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 397 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.
Peniel’s family of names
See also 10
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
- Phoenixshares a root
- Phinehasshares a root
- Phanuelshares a root
- Penuelshares a root
- Phoeniciashares a root
- Jephunnehshares a root
- Punonshares a root
- Pinonshares a root
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Similar names
If you love Peniel, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Hananiah
“Yah has been gracious”
45% boys · 55% girls
Shaddai
“my destroyer” · “my protective spirit”
33% boys · 67% girls
Shiloh
“one who is peaceful; abundant” · “he who was sent”
42% boys · 58% girls
Adaiah
“Yahweh has adorned” · “ornament of the Lord”
16% boys · 84% girls
Ari
“resembling a lion or an eagle”
62% boys · 38% girls
Jaazaniah
“Yah harkens”
20% boys · 80% girls
Azariah
“one who is helped by God”
52% boys · 48% girls
Aiman
45% boys · 55% girls