A suffix meaning G-d in
Hebrew. Appears in
angel names like
Gabriel,
Sammael, etc. but not in
Metatron, which seems to be of
Greek derivation.
Another example is
Daniel, which means "G-d is (my) Judge".
I just learned from the Catholic Encyclopedia article on Hebrew Names that it is not just a
suffix: Elisama
means "G-d heard". That source says of 'El that
"some derive the word from a root 'wl, "to be strong", others
from y'l, which might connote the idea of "being the first" others finally from 'lh, by which, at an early stage of the development of the Semitic languages the idea of mere relation (esse ad) was conveyed".
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary has this to say about 'el:
shortened from ''ayil'; strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity):-- God (god), X goodly, X great, idol, might(-y one), power, strong. Compare names in "-el."\
According to the Genealogy Resource Center (cproots.com), -el is also a Germanic or Slavic
diminutive suffix. The example they give is the patronymic Wenzel, which they derive
from Wenze.