Angel names in the Bible are surprisingly few: only two angels are named — Michael, the archangel who leads God’s heavenly army (Daniel 10:13; Jude 1:9), and Gabriel, the messenger who announced the births of John the Baptist and Jesus (Luke 1:19, 1:26-27). No female angels are named; names like Raphael and Uriel come from outside the biblical canon.
Many people expect the Bible to name dozens of angels, but Scripture is remarkably restrained. Across both Testaments, only two angels are called by name. That restraint is itself instructive: the Bible keeps the focus on God, not on the heavenly beings who serve Him.
The two named angels — Michael and Gabriel — appear at the turning points of redemptive history. Gabriel carries heaven’s announcements to Daniel, Zechariah, and Mary. Michael fights heaven’s battles against spiritual forces of evil and stands guard over God’s people. Their names, like so many names in Scripture, declare truths about God Himself.
In this guide, we will look at every angel name in the Bible, the meaning of each name, the passages where they appear, and the names people often assume are biblical but are not — including Raphael, Uriel, and so-called female angel names. You will also find KJV verses about angels and answers to the most common questions.
What Are the Names of the Angels in the Bible?
The Bible names only two angels: Michael and Gabriel. Michael appears in Daniel, Jude, and Revelation as the archangel who leads the heavenly armies. Gabriel appears in Daniel and Luke as God’s special messenger, the angel who delivered heaven’s most joyful announcements.
Both names end in “-el,” the Hebrew word for God — a pattern shared by many theophoric names in Scripture, names that carry a declaration about the Lord. Just as our guide to the Biblical Meaning of the Name Anthony explores how name meanings can carry declarations of faith, the same principle applies to the names of angels in the Bible.
When Jacob dreamed of a ladder between heaven and earth, “behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it” (Genesis 28:12) — and our article on Jacob in the Bible tells his story in full. Notice that the angels on Jacob’s ladder are many, but none is named. Everything else Scripture teaches about angels — their ranks, their number, their service — comes from descriptions and titles rather than personal names. Seraphim, cherubim, thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers (Colossians 1:16) are orders of heavenly beings, not personal names.
Michael the Archangel — Leader of Heaven’s Armies
Michael is the only angel in Scripture explicitly called “the archangel” (Jude 1:9). The word “archangel” appears only twice in the New Testament — here and in 1 Thessalonians 4:16, where the Lord descends “with the voice of the archangel.” Every time Michael appears, he is fighting, guarding, or standing watch.
What Does the Name Michael Mean?
The name Michael is a rhetorical question: “Who is like God?” In a cosmos where spiritual powers oppose the Lord, Michael’s very name is a confession — no one is like God. The connection between God’s name and His character runs deep in Scripture, as our article on the Names of God in the Bible explains.
Michael’s Battles in Scripture
In Daniel’s visions, Michael is “one of the chief princes” (Daniel 10:13), the heavenly prince who came to assist the angelic messenger delayed by “the prince of the kingdom of Persia.” For the last days, Daniel 12:1 promises: “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people.” And Revelation 12:7 describes the cosmic battle: “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon.”
“Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.” — Jude 1:9 (KJV)
Notice Michael’s restraint: even the archangel does not rebuke Satan in his own authority but appeals to the Lord. True strength in heaven bows to God.
Gabriel — God’s Special Messenger
Gabriel is the angel of announcement. He appears to Daniel to explain visions, to Zechariah to promise the birth of John the Baptist, and to Mary to announce the birth of Jesus — the most important birth announcement in history.
What Does the Name Gabriel Mean?
Gabriel means “God is my strength” — also rendered “mighty one of God” or “man of God.” The name fits the bearer perfectly: every time Gabriel appears, he comes with strength from God’s presence to deliver heaven’s message.
Gabriel’s Messages in Scripture
Daniel 8:16 records the first mention: “Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.” In Luke’s Gospel, Gabriel introduces himself to Zechariah: “I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God” (Luke 1:19). Then came the announcement to Mary: “And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary” (Luke 1:26-27).
“And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.” — Luke 1:19 (KJV)
Gabriel stands in God’s presence — a position of honor — and is sent when heaven’s plans are about to break into human history.
Angel Names That Are NOT in the Bible
Ask for a list of angel names and you will hear far more than two. Popular culture, baby-name books, and even some religious traditions add names that the Bible never gives to angels. Here is the truth about the most common ones.
Raphael
Raphael appears in the book of Tobit, part of the Apocrypha — writings included in some church traditions but not in the Protestant 66-book canon. Strictly speaking, the angel names in the Bible do not include Raphael.
Uriel
Uriel appears in 2 Esdras and the Book of Enoch — again, works outside the Protestant canon. Many websites list Uriel among the names of angels in the Bible, but the name never occurs in the 66 books of Scripture.
Other Popular “Angel Names”
Names like Chamuel, Jophiel, Zadkiel, Raziel, and Cassiel come from later Jewish and Christian mystical writings, medieval angelology, and modern spiritual literature — not from Scripture. Whenever you check whether an angel name is biblical, look for a book, chapter, and verse. If no passage exists, the name comes from tradition, not the Bible.
Female Angel Names in the Bible
The short answer: there are none. The Bible names no female angels, and it gives no angel a feminine name. Whenever angels appear in Scripture in visible form, they appear as men — Abraham’s visitors in Genesis 18:2 are described as three men, and the two angels who visit Lot are likewise described as men. Hebrews 13:2 reminds believers that “some have entertained angels unawares” — a verse that pictures angels arriving in ordinary human guise.
Some traditions and modern baby-name lists offer feminine “angel names,” but none of these comes from the Bible. The feminine forms of Michael (Michaela) and Gabriel (Gabriella) are human names derived from the angels’ names — beautiful choices, but human ones.
What Are the Names of the Archangels in the Bible?
Only one: Michael. Jude 1:9 calls him “Michael the archangel,” and he is the only angel in Scripture given that title. The word “archangel” itself appears only twice in the New Testament (Jude 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:16). Gabriel is never called an archangel in Scripture, though tradition often gives him the title.
Other terms people confuse with archangel names — seraphim (Isaiah 6), cherubim (Genesis 3:24; Ezekiel 1), and the “thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers” of Colossians 1:16 — describe ranks or kinds of heavenly beings, not named individuals.
Bible Verses About Angels and Their Names
These KJV passages show what Scripture actually says about angels — their strength, their service, their number, and their worship.
“Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.” — Psalm 103:20 (KJV)
“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” — Hebrews 13:2 (KJV)
“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.” — Colossians 1:16 (KJV)
“And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands.” — Revelation 5:11 (KJV)
One more verse keeps angel devotion in its proper place. When John fell at an angel’s feet to worship him, the angel refused: “See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant… worship God” (Revelation 19:10). Angels point away from themselves and toward the Lord.
Frequently Asked Questions About Angel Names in the Bible
What are the names of the angels in the Bible?
The Bible names only two angels: Michael (Daniel 10:13; Jude 1:9; Revelation 12:7) and Gabriel (Daniel 8:16; Luke 1:19, 26). Every other angel in Scripture is unnamed.
What are the names of the archangels in the Bible?
Only Michael is called an archangel in the Bible (Jude 1:9). The title appears just twice in the New Testament, and Gabriel is never given it in Scripture.
Are there female angel names in the Bible?
No. Scripture names no female angels. Angels who appear visibly in the Bible appear as men (Genesis 18:2), and the Bible’s silence on female angels is worth respecting.
Is Raphael an angel in the Bible?
Raphael is not named in the 66 books of the Protestant Bible. He appears in Tobit, a book in the Apocrypha, which is why Catholic and Orthodox traditions know him but the Protestant canon does not name him.
What does the name Michael mean?
Michael means “Who is like God?” — a rhetorical question declaring that no one compares to the Lord. It is the battle cry of heaven’s chief warrior.
What does the name Gabriel mean?
Gabriel means “God is my strength” (also rendered “mighty one of God”). It fits the angel who delivered heaven’s strongest announcements, including the birth of Jesus.
What is the angel of the LORD?
The “angel of the LORD” is a title, not a personal name. It appears throughout the Old Testament — for example, in the burning bush (Exodus 3:2) — for a heavenly messenger speaking with God’s own authority. Scripture never gives this figure a personal name.
Are seraphim and cherubim angel names?
No. Seraphim (Isaiah 6:2) and cherubim (Genesis 3:24) are orders or kinds of heavenly beings, not personal names of individual angels. They describe what these creatures are, not who they are.
How many angels are named in the Bible?
Two: Michael and Gabriel. Revelation 5:11 says the total number of angels is “ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands,” but only two are named.
Do angels have genders?
Angels are spirits — “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” (Hebrews 1:14, KJV) — and the Bible never assigns them genders. They are always described with masculine language and appear as men, but Scripture does not teach that angels are male or female in the human sense.
Conclusion
Angel names in the Bible are few — Michael and Gabriel — and that is exactly the point. Scripture does not invite us to build devotion around angels but to worship the God they serve. Their names declare His uniqueness (“Who is like God?”) and His strength (“God is my strength”), and their stories all point to His plans.
When you pray, pray to the Lord of the angels, not to the angels themselves. As the angel told John, “worship God” (Revelation 19:10). And if you are naming a child after an angel, Michael and Gabriel are the only two with true biblical roots — names that carry heaven’s own declarations about who God is.
I’m Emma, an AI content writer with 4 years of experience creating heartfelt prayers, Bible-based messages, blessings, and inspiring faith-filled content.