With Disney’s release of the new The Little Mermaid on May 26, families everywhere are talking about Ariel again. The cartoon version of the Little Mermaid was my absolute favorite growing up. It tells the story of Ariel, a mermaid princess who dreams of living on land, and falls in love with a human prince. I remember being about 8 years old, singing the lyrics, and imagining it was me in the cave wanting to see ‘a whole new world.’ I didn’t care about the prince, I just wanted that gorgeous, sparkly white dress she walked out of the ocean in. Little did I know the red-headed, sassy cartoon character would be the inspiration for the name of my future, beautiful house cat, Ariel!
About two years after naming her, I was sitting at work (as a hospital nurse for new moms and babies), reaching for a baby names book to page through. A’s were at the beginning, so I eagerly seared for her name, wondering if it’s meaning would reflect something about her personality. I actually laughed out loud when the meaning across from “Ariel” read: “Lioness of God!” That phrase captured her personality perfectly. She’s definitely feline, and she acted like she was a lioness. She was also a blessing from God, that lit up my world with adorableness and adventure. Just like Ariel the Little Mermaid, this cat was:
Confident:
Beautiful:
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Adventurous:
Full of personality:
Ariel got her name because the Little Mermaid was my favorite Disney princess. And she lived up to it But did you know that there are other famous people and things named Ariel, who also show different characteristics of the name?
History of the name Ariel
Lets do a little dive into history for a moment. Ariel as a name has been used for centuries, and has been associated with many things, including the sea, mermaids, and the color red. Beyond our Ariel the Lioness, and Ariel the Little Mermaid, another famous Ariel is Ariel Sharon. He was an Israeli general and politician who served as Prime Minister of Israel. Also a military hero who fought in several wars, and is known as a controversial political figure. (Sassy Ariel!) Other famous Ariels including the American actress Ariel Winter, who is best known for her role in the TV series Modern Family. Or Ariel Ortega, the Argentine footballer, the American singer-songwriter Ariel Pink, and the American poet and novelist Ariel Dorfman.
Ariels Are Great
So, what do all these Ariels have in common? Well, they are all unique in their own way, but they all share a connection to the name, and a rich connection to history and popular culture. Whether it’s the sea, the color red, their lioness-like confidence, their sassiness, or their adventurous personalities; the name Ariel has captured the imagination of people all over the world. Ariels are pretty great. They are both: mermaids and lionesses, and I am so blessed to call one my own!
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