ChatGPT
Claude
Gemini
Perplexity
The short answer
Ezekiel is a masculine name from the Hebrew Yeḥezqel, meaning "God will strengthen", built from the roots ḥazaq ("to strengthen") and ʾel ("God"). It is pronounced ih-ZEE-kee-əl. In the Old Testament Ezekiel is a major prophet and the author of the Book of Ezekiel, taken to Babylon after the conquest of Jerusalem. Behind the Name notes that it has been used as an English given name since the Protestant Reformation. In the United States it ranked #61 for boys in 2025. The usual short form is Zeke.
Meaning and etymology
Behind the Name derives Ezekiel "from the Hebrew name יְחֶזְקֵאל (Yeḥezqel) meaning 'God will strengthen'", built from ḥazaq "to strengthen" and ʾel "God". The name belongs to a major prophet of the Old Testament, who lived in Jerusalem until the Babylonian conquest and was carried to Babylon, where (per the Book of Ezekiel) he recorded symbolic visions predicting the restoration of Israel. Behind the Name lists Ezequiel (Spanish and Portuguese), Ezechiel (Biblical Latin), Hesekiel (Finnish, German, Swedish) and Yechezkel (Hebrew) among the forms in other languages.
Editorial confidence: established
Linguistic roots
| Language | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Hebrew | ḥazaq (חָזַק) | to strengthen |
| Hebrew | ʾel (אֵל) | God |
| Hebrew | Yeḥezqel (יְחֶזְקֵאל) | God will strengthen |
Popularity
Ezekiel ranked #61 for boys in the United States in 2025 (Social Security Administration). Behind the Name records that the name entered English use after the Protestant Reformation; no earlier ranking history is included in this draft.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #61 | ssa-2025 |
Nicknames, variants, and related names
Nicknames: Zeke
Variants: Ezequiel, Ezechiel, Hesekiel, Yechezkel
Related names: Haskel, Chatzkel, Iezekiel
What the name feels like
Ezekiel reads as a bold, four-syllable biblical name with a strong central stress. It sits alongside other Old Testament revivals that feel grand in full but casual in the nickname: the prophet's gravity in Ezekiel, the easy familiarity of Zeke.
Style tags: biblical, Hebrew, four syllables, prophet name, strong nickname
Editorial interpretation: These style impressions are editorial judgment, not linguistic fact. The etymology and the biblical account are from Behind the Name; the characterisation of the name as 'bold' or 'grand' is opinion.
If you like this name
Names with the same Old Testament weight, a similar sound, or the same -el ending (editorial suggestions).
Similar by origin
Similar by sound
Similar by style
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ezekiel mean?
Ezekiel means "God will strengthen". It comes from the Hebrew name Yeḥezqel, formed from ḥazaq ("to strengthen") and ʾel ("God").
Is Ezekiel a biblical name?
Yes. Ezekiel is a major prophet of the Old Testament and the author of the Book of Ezekiel, which describes his visions of Israel's restoration during the Babylonian captivity.
How popular is the name Ezekiel?
Ezekiel ranked #61 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Ezekiel — supports etymology, biblical background, pronunciation, nicknames, variants, Reformation-era usage.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
