The name Uriel is of Hebrew origin, derived from the biblical phrase "Ur-i El" which means "fire of God" or "light of God." It is a name associated with the archangel Uriel, who is mentioned in various religious and mystical texts.

Uriel is first referenced in the non-canonical Biblical apocryphal Book of Enoch, written in the 3rd century BC. In this text, Uriel is described as one of the leading archangels responsible for providing wisdom and knowledge to humankind. He is also mentioned in other apocryphal texts such as the Book of Ezra and the Apocalypse of Peter.

In the Kabbalah, a school of Jewish mysticism, Uriel is considered one of the four archangels, along with Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. He is associated with the element of earth and is believed to be the angel of repentance and divine wisdom.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Uriel being used for a person is in the 4th century AD. Uriel of Alexandria was a Christian monk and theologian who lived in the Egyptian desert during this time period.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Uriel. Uriel da Costa (1585-1640) was a Portuguese philosopher and writer who was excommunicated for his controversial views on Judaism. Uriel Weinreich (1926-1967) was a linguist and Yiddish scholar who made significant contributions to the study of language contact and language shift.

Other famous individuals named Uriel include Uriel Acosta (c. 1590-1647), a Jewish philosopher and writer from Portugal; Uriel Birnbaum (1894-1956), a Polish-Israeli writer and activist; and Uriel Quesada (1886-1972), a Costa Rican writer and diplomat.

In literature, the name Uriel has been used in works such as John Milton's Paradise Lost, where Uriel is depicted as the archangel who guards the sun. The name has also appeared in various fantasy and science fiction works, often associated with angelic or celestial beings.