Liel is a Hebrew feminine name meaning “my God.” It is derived from two elements: the preposition li (“for me” or “to me”) and the divine name ʾel (“God”), forming a possessive phrase that expresses a personal relationship with the divine. The name is a concise theological statement rooted in the Hebrew Bible’s frequent use of compound names referencing God, such as Eliyahu (“my God is Yahweh”). Despite its spiritual sound, Liel is a modern Israeli coinage, having emerged in the late 20th century as part of a trend toward short, melodic, and non-biblical Hebrew names. It appears in both feminine and masculine contexts but is predominantly given to girls. The name shares a thematic kinship with other ʾel-based names like Eliana or Gabriel, yet its unique grammar imbues it with an intimate sense of possessiveness—God as an acknowledged personal deity. As of 2023, Liel ranks among the top 100 baby girl names in Israel.
- Meaning: “my God”
- Origin: Hebrew
- Type: First name
- Usage: Hebrew-speaking communities (primarily feminine)
- Related: Derived from li + ʾel; unrelated to Leah or other similar-sounding names