Lucifer: The Meaning Behind Each Celestial’s Name

During the first season of Lucifer, the characters of Lucifer and Amenadiel were the only celestials who appeared on Earth. As the series progressed, several other angels visited, most of whom were siblings of the pair and also direct children of God. While there are some things that don’t make sense about the angels on Lucifer, there are compelling storylines behind each one.

Most, though not all, of the celestials had names that ended in “iel.” And fans might wonder: What do these names actually mean? Why were they chosen for the characters? The same questions might arise regarding the demons. Mazikeen, for example, literally translates to “those who do harm” in Hebrew, based on the spelling Mazikin. What about the celestials who arrived from Heaven?

10 Lucifer

Technically, Lucifer is the name that he gave himself to replace his literal God-given name, Samiel. Nonetheless, since Lucifer used to be an angel, this name is worth including. Interestingly, his full name is actually a pun since Lucifer literally means “morning star” according to Etymonline.com.

When used as an adjective, it actually means “light-bringing” or “light bearer.” Thus, not only does his first and last name mean the same thing, but it’s also ironic given that he chose the name while working as the ruler of Hell. In history, however, the name Lucifer has become associated with the Devil, referencing his fall from grace. Yet Lucifer has demonstrated through how much he has changed since season 1 of Lucifer that the name might not be as tarnished as some believe.

9 Samiel

Lucifer’s real name, Samiel, literally means “God has heard” in Hebrew according to Babycentre.co.uk. Spelled in the Bible as Shemu’el, it is derived from the Hebrew words “shama,” which means “heard,” and “ei,” which means “God.”

It is no wonder, then, that Lucifer wanted to shed this name from his person after being banished from Heaven and sent to rule Hell for all of eternity. More commonly today, the name has been adjusted to be spelled as Samuel.

8 Azrael

Azrael was the Angel of Death on Lucifer and the younger sister of the group. She was also the one who took a liking to Ella following the forensic scientist’s near-death car accident when she was a child.

The Hebrew name Azrael actually means “helped by God,” according to The Bump. There’s some irony there seeing as Azrael on the show wasn’t really there to help in a traditional sense, but another interpretation of her name can connect it to Azrael helping those close to death get safely to Heaven. Azrael’s blade is the only one who can kill other celestials, which makes sense given her position.

7 Amenadiel

According to Names.com, the name Amenadiel is created from a combination of words and meanings. “Amen,” translates to “so be it” or “truly” in Hebrew. Meanwhile, “El” means “God.” Thus, the name would literally translate to “Truly from God” or “So be it says God.”

The name makes sense since it was revealed that Amenadiel, the eldest son, was also God’s favorite. He was the most level-headed and loyal, doing whatever it took to please his father. When looking at the Latin translation, the meaning is a very similar “By God’s will.” Watching Amenadiel trying to understand things on Earth were some of the funniest scenes on Lucifer.

6 Eve

Eve was, according to the Bible, the first woman. Thus, it’s no surprise that her name literally means “life” or “animal” in Hebrew, according to The Bump. As those who are familiar with the Bible understand, Eve is said to have been created from a rib of Adam’s (the first man).

On Lucifer, Eve is wild and reckless, having headed to Earth to finally be free after realizing for all of eternity that she was literally created from and for someone else.

5 Remiel

Of all the angels, Remiel was arguably the strongest, a fierce and skilled fighter. Thus, it’s no surprise that her name means “the thunder of God” in Hebrew, according to Nameberry.com. Remiel entered with a thunderous roar, ready to fight, even trying to take on Amenadiel in the scene when she discovered Charlie was his child and he refused to let her take the baby to Heaven.

Interestingly, the name is typically given to males. When given to humans in real life, it is sometimes spelled Ramiel.

4 Uriel

Lucifer sadly killed his brother Uriel in an effort to protect his life on Earth and, more importantly, to protect Chloe. Uriel had the incredible ability to create patterns, doing one simple thing that would cause a ripple effect that would eventually lead to something much bigger, from a car accident to someone’s death.

Interestingly, the name Uriel literally means “God is my light” in Hebrew, according to Behindthename.com. The character on the show was the awkward middle child whose siblings always excluded him. He did not bring much light on the show, however, and was arguably the least intelligent villain on Lucifer.

3 Michael/Mikael

Michael is one of the more common names among the angels, which might have been intentional to suggest his more average status. The name in its various spellings, which can also include “Mikha’el,” means “who is like God?” in Hebrew, or “gift from God,” according to VeryWellFamily.com. The question mark is an important part of the meaning because it suggests that the name was created to imply that there really was no one else like God.

While vying for the position of God, Michael from Lucifer did some pretty terrible things in his attempts to achieve his goal. Most people who choose this name for their child go with the latter meaning, “gift from God.” The name also has traditionally female variations, including Michelle, Michaela, and Mila (while Michael is a name sometimes given to girls as well).

2 Gabriel

Gabriel was the “archangel of gossip,” as Lucifer joked on the show. The name itself actually means “God is my strength,” “devoted to God,” or “a hero of God,” according to BabyCenter. In the Bible, Gabriel is the figure who advises Mary that she will soon give birth to the son of God.

A common name in popular culture for both men and women, Gabriel played a pivotal role in the final season of Lucifer, bringing the Goddess back along with a piece of the flaming sword that gave Michael an advantage in his fight to become God.

1 Zadkiel 

On the series, Zadkiel was righteous to a fault, unable to back Lucifer until he realized the pure and honest reasons Lucifer wanted to be God. Not as common in the real world as other names on this list, Zadkiel has a beautiful meaning: it translates in Hebrew to “angel of mercy,” according to The Bump.

The name can also represent freedom, benevolence, and forgiveness, so it’s clear it was intentional that the name was chosen specifically for this character.

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