Usiel is a Hebrew-form variant of Uzziel, meaning "God is my strength."
Usiel is a Hebrew name of striking antiquity, meaning "God is my strength" or "strength of God," composed of the elements uz (strength, power) and El (the Hebrew divine name). It appears in the Hebrew Bible as the name of several figures, most notably a son of Kohath and grandson of Levi, making him a Levite of the inner priestly circle. In the Book of Numbers, the Uzzielites are listed as a distinct family within the tribe of Levi, responsible for sacred duties at the Tabernacle — giving the name a connection to the most intimate forms of religious service in ancient Israel.
In Jewish mystical and apocryphal traditions, Usiel takes on an even more luminous quality: various texts in the tradition of the Dead Sea Scrolls and later Kabbalistic literature list Usiel among the angels, a guardian figure whose name proclaims divine strength. This angelic association places Usiel in distinguished company alongside Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, and Uriel — names where the suffix El announces a direct relationship with the divine. For communities steeped in this tradition, choosing Usiel for a child is an act of profound spiritual intention.
Contemporary usage of Usiel is primarily found in Sephardic and Mizrahi Jewish communities, as well as among Latinx families with Jewish heritage in Mexico and the Caribbean, where it is sometimes rendered Uziel. It is a name that carries centuries of sacred association while remaining genuinely uncommon in the broader English-speaking world — ancient, powerful, and waiting to be rediscovered.