Fun Facts About the Name Joel
- More than 282 thousand babies named Joel: U.S. records list 282,223 babies given the name Joel from 1880 through 2025. Even 2,594 girls received the name Joel - about 1 girl for every 108 boys.
What Does the Name Joel Mean?
Joel is a masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning "Yahweh is God." It comes from the Hebrew יוֹאֵל (Yo'el), a theophoric name - that is, a name that contains a divine name - built from two elements. The first is Yo-, a shortened form of the Israelite divine name YHWH. The second is El, the common Hebrew word for "God." Read literally, the two parts form the sentence "Yahweh is God" (or, in the traditional English rendering of the divine name, "The LORD is God").
The name is therefore a statement or confession rather than a description, and its meaning is a direct translation of its components, not a later symbolic reading. Beyond "Yahweh is God," no separate etymology is widely proposed; some writers render the phrase as "Yah is God," which reflects the same shortened divine element rather than a different origin.
Joel Name History & Origins
In the Hebrew Bible, יוֹאֵל belongs to more than one figure. One is a son of the prophet Samuel, appointed as a judge (1 Samuel 8:2). The name's main religious association, though, comes from the prophet Joel, whose short book is counted among the twelve minor prophets. The date of that book is disputed: proposals range from the ninth century BCE to the period after the Babylonian exile, so the prophet's era cannot be fixed with confidence.
Greek-speaking Jewish translators rendered the name as Ἰωήλ (Ioel) in the Septuagint, and the Latin Bible used Iohel or Joel. In the New Testament, Peter cites the prophet Joel in his sermon at Pentecost (Acts 2:16), which kept the name familiar in Christian tradition. The English form Joel passed through Latin and French. It was long used in Jewish communities and became more common among Christians after the Reformation, when Old Testament names were favored by English-speaking Protestants; the name also appears in the calendars of several churches as that of a minor prophet.
How Popular is the Name Joel?
Joel recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1985. Joel entered the top 100 U.S. boy names in 1967.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #13,970 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2024 | #12,690 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2023 | #11,637 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2021 | #12,781 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2019 | #14,583 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2018 | #11,911 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2017 | #14,918 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2016 | #10,437 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2015 | #17,686 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2014 | #9,823 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2011 | #8,863 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2010 | #11,703 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2009 | #18,602 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2008 | #12,046 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2007 | #11,189 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2006 | #8,458 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 2005 | #8,561 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2004 | #8,949 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2003 | #9,335 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2002 | #7,221 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2001 | #7,114 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2000 | #6,966 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1999 | #6,036 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1998 | #6,513 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1997 | #5,305 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1996 | #4,501 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1995 | #4,142 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 1994 | #4,301 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 1993 | #3,718 | 29 | 0.0016% |
| 1992 | #4,295 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 1991 | #2,953 | 39 | 0.0021% |
| 1990 | #3,041 | 37 | 0.0019% |
| 1989 | #4,057 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 1988 | #2,563 | 42 | 0.0024% |
| 1987 | #2,807 | 35 | 0.0020% |
| 1986 | #2,155 | 49 | 0.0029% |
| 1985 | #2,560 | 38 | 0.0022% |
| 1984 | #2,241 | 44 | 0.0026% |
| 1983 | #2,054 | 49 | 0.0029% |
| 1982 | #2,424 | 40 | 0.0024% |
| 1981 | #2,171 | 47 | 0.0028% |
| 1980 | #2,166 | 47 | 0.0028% |
| 1979 | #2,356 | 40 | 0.0025% |
| 1978 | #2,167 | 43 | 0.0028% |
| 1977 | #2,038 | 47 | 0.0031% |
| 1976 | #2,405 | 34 | 0.0023% |
| 1975 | #2,109 | 41 | 0.0028% |
| 1974 | #1,744 | 52 | 0.0035% |
| 1973 | #2,652 | 27 | 0.0019% |
| 1972 | #1,956 | 42 | 0.0028% |
| 1971 | #1,863 | 47 | 0.0028% |
| 1970 | #1,968 | 43 | 0.0025% |
| 1969 | #1,308 | 75 | 0.0044% |
| 1968 | #1,339 | 69 | 0.0042% |
| 1967 | #1,271 | 72 | 0.0044% |
| 1966 | #1,020 | 103 | 0.0061% |
| 1965 | #1,897 | 37 | 0.0021% |
| 1964 | #2,709 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 1963 | #2,911 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1962 | #2,768 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1961 | #2,432 | 25 | 0.0012% |
| 1960 | #2,541 | 23 | 0.0011% |
| 1959 | #3,164 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1958 | #2,042 | 30 | 0.0015% |
| 1957 | #2,194 | 26 | 0.0013% |
| 1956 | #2,349 | 23 | 0.0011% |
| 1955 | #2,245 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 1954 | #1,920 | 30 | 0.0015% |
| 1953 | #2,264 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 1952 | #1,995 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 1951 | #2,860 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1950 | #1,809 | 28 | 0.0016% |
| 1949 | #2,919 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1948 | #1,913 | 25 | 0.0015% |
| 1947 | #1,772 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 1946 | #1,883 | 24 | 0.0015% |
| 1945 | #1,717 | 24 | 0.0018% |
| 1944 | #1,830 | 22 | 0.0017% |
| 1943 | #1,567 | 29 | 0.0021% |
| 1942 | #1,683 | 25 | 0.0019% |
| 1941 | #2,050 | 17 | 0.0014% |
| 1940 | #1,612 | 24 | 0.0021% |
| 1939 | #1,567 | 24 | 0.0022% |
| 1938 | #1,778 | 20 | 0.0018% |
| 1937 | #1,476 | 26 | 0.0024% |
| 1936 | #1,281 | 32 | 0.0031% |
| 1935 | #1,339 | 30 | 0.0029% |
| 1934 | #1,627 | 22 | 0.0021% |
| 1933 | #2,328 | 13 | 0.0013% |
| 1932 | #2,304 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1931 | #2,875 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1930 | #2,149 | 16 | 0.0014% |
| 1929 | #2,375 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1928 | #2,874 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1927 | #2,952 | 11 | 0.0009% |
| 1926 | #3,163 | 10 | 0.0008% |
| 1925 | #2,330 | 16 | 0.0013% |
| 1924 | #2,737 | 13 | 0.0010% |
| 1923 | #2,820 | 12 | 0.0010% |
| 1922 | #2,873 | 12 | 0.0010% |
| 1921 | #2,851 | 12 | 0.0010% |
| 1919 | #3,325 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1918 | #3,382 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1917 | #4,339 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1916 | #3,725 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1915 | #4,007 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1912 | #3,192 | 5 | 0.0009% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #219 | 1,633 | 0.0956% |
| 2024 | #219 | 1,633 | 0.0952% |
| 2023 | #212 | 1,741 | 0.1019% |
| 2022 | #209 | 1,780 | 0.1020% |
| 2021 | #211 | 1,797 | 0.1028% |
| 2020 | #207 | 1,842 | 0.1068% |
| 2019 | #187 | 2,094 | 0.1168% |
| 2018 | #188 | 2,132 | 0.1174% |
| 2017 | #177 | 2,261 | 0.1222% |
| 2016 | #166 | 2,427 | 0.1279% |
| 2015 | #158 | 2,602 | 0.1358% |
| 2014 | #154 | 2,670 | 0.1390% |
| 2013 | #144 | 2,727 | 0.1442% |
| 2012 | #144 | 2,778 | 0.1465% |
| 2011 | #132 | 3,056 | 0.1609% |
| 2010 | #132 | 3,065 | 0.1598% |
| 2009 | #116 | 3,564 | 0.1797% |
| 2008 | #113 | 3,743 | 0.1835% |
| 2007 | #123 | 3,422 | 0.1649% |
| 2006 | #123 | 3,455 | 0.1681% |
| 2005 | #123 | 3,273 | 0.1639% |
| 2004 | #124 | 3,236 | 0.1630% |
| 2003 | #124 | 3,245 | 0.1643% |
| 2002 | #122 | 3,191 | 0.1644% |
| 2001 | #126 | 3,167 | 0.1630% |
| 2000 | #112 | 3,380 | 0.1721% |
| 1999 | #115 | 3,184 | 0.1658% |
| 1998 | #117 | 3,172 | 0.1660% |
| 1997 | #126 | 2,989 | 0.1586% |
| 1996 | #124 | 3,004 | 0.1586% |
| 1995 | #120 | 3,100 | 0.1628% |
| 1994 | #108 | 3,368 | 0.1743% |
| 1993 | #101 | 3,558 | 0.1814% |
| 1992 | #100 | 3,665 | 0.1835% |
| 1991 | #100 | 3,760 | 0.1861% |
| 1990 | #95 | 4,000 | 0.1947% |
| 1989 | #88 | 3,940 | 0.1969% |
| 1988 | #85 | 3,939 | 0.2058% |
| 1987 | #75 | 4,138 | 0.2216% |
| 1986 | #72 | 4,506 | 0.2447% |
| 1985 | #67 | 4,623 | 0.2501% |
| 1984 | #66 | 4,524 | 0.2506% |
| 1983 | #67 | 4,345 | 0.2424% |
| 1982 | #69 | 4,446 | 0.2450% |
| 1981 | #65 | 4,540 | 0.2534% |
| 1980 | #67 | 4,565 | 0.2559% |
| 1979 | #71 | 4,216 | 0.2449% |
| 1978 | #74 | 3,810 | 0.2320% |
| 1977 | #73 | 3,823 | 0.2326% |
| 1976 | #72 | 3,725 | 0.2374% |
| 1975 | #74 | 3,728 | 0.2387% |
| 1974 | #75 | 3,492 | 0.2221% |
| 1973 | #73 | 3,570 | 0.2290% |
| 1972 | #78 | 3,528 | 0.2175% |
| 1971 | #86 | 3,499 | 0.1978% |
| 1970 | #82 | 3,840 | 0.2066% |
| 1969 | #80 | 3,680 | 0.2058% |
| 1968 | #80 | 3,683 | 0.2119% |
| 1967 | #90 | 3,478 | 0.1994% |
| 1966 | #102 | 3,230 | 0.1811% |
| 1965 | #114 | 2,861 | 0.1538% |
| 1964 | #110 | 3,136 | 0.1574% |
| 1963 | #110 | 3,235 | 0.1593% |
| 1962 | #113 | 3,298 | 0.1594% |
| 1961 | #110 | 3,520 | 0.1657% |
| 1960 | #110 | 3,710 | 0.1740% |
| 1959 | #117 | 3,458 | 0.1620% |
| 1958 | #120 | 3,224 | 0.1519% |
| 1957 | #104 | 3,604 | 0.1671% |
| 1956 | #106 | 3,436 | 0.1624% |
| 1955 | #121 | 2,806 | 0.1362% |
| 1954 | #127 | 2,596 | 0.1273% |
| 1953 | #134 | 2,302 | 0.1167% |
| 1952 | #132 | 2,229 | 0.1147% |
| 1951 | #129 | 2,162 | 0.1148% |
| 1950 | #130 | 2,043 | 0.1141% |
| 1949 | #138 | 1,987 | 0.1120% |
| 1948 | #137 | 2,026 | 0.1155% |
| 1947 | #133 | 2,144 | 0.1172% |
| 1946 | #127 | 1,999 | 0.1231% |
| 1945 | #135 | 1,597 | 0.1187% |
| 1944 | #125 | 1,714 | 0.1258% |
| 1943 | #128 | 1,745 | 0.1223% |
| 1942 | #134 | 1,595 | 0.1155% |
| 1941 | #142 | 1,339 | 0.1090% |
| 1940 | #140 | 1,278 | 0.1103% |
| 1939 | #135 | 1,295 | 0.1170% |
| 1938 | #134 | 1,262 | 0.1138% |
| 1937 | #139 | 1,116 | 0.1046% |
| 1936 | #146 | 1,060 | 0.1022% |
| 1935 | #157 | 919 | 0.0883% |
| 1934 | #172 | 815 | 0.0789% |
| 1933 | #185 | 666 | 0.0672% |
| 1932 | #207 | 623 | 0.0597% |
| 1931 | #242 | 477 | 0.0459% |
| 1930 | #263 | 455 | 0.0415% |
| 1929 | #272 | 420 | 0.0390% |
| 1928 | #278 | 415 | 0.0375% |
| 1927 | #285 | 392 | 0.0348% |
| 1926 | #291 | 379 | 0.0341% |
| 1925 | #294 | 379 | 0.0340% |
| 1924 | #295 | 377 | 0.0333% |
| 1923 | #303 | 348 | 0.0317% |
| 1922 | #294 | 368 | 0.0338% |
| 1921 | #281 | 395 | 0.0359% |
| 1920 | #308 | 346 | 0.0325% |
| 1919 | #280 | 358 | 0.0365% |
| 1918 | #296 | 348 | 0.0343% |
| 1917 | #301 | 308 | 0.0333% |
| 1916 | #310 | 282 | 0.0317% |
| 1915 | #313 | 272 | 0.0321% |
| 1914 | #322 | 200 | 0.0305% |
| 1913 | #310 | 167 | 0.0326% |
| 1912 | #333 | 129 | 0.0300% |
| 1911 | #359 | 59 | 0.0261% |
| 1910 | #335 | 55 | 0.0283% |
| 1909 | #328 | 50 | 0.0305% |
| 1908 | #339 | 45 | 0.0292% |
| 1907 | #288 | 54 | 0.0368% |
| 1906 | #292 | 49 | 0.0368% |
| 1905 | #289 | 48 | 0.0363% |
| 1904 | #298 | 43 | 0.0336% |
| 1903 | #343 | 32 | 0.0268% |
| 1902 | #314 | 38 | 0.0310% |
| 1901 | #307 | 34 | 0.0319% |
| 1900 | #380 | 35 | 0.0233% |
| 1899 | #286 | 37 | 0.0348% |
| 1898 | #260 | 48 | 0.0391% |
| 1897 | #334 | 31 | 0.0275% |
| 1896 | #307 | 37 | 0.0309% |
| 1895 | #298 | 37 | 0.0315% |
| 1894 | #266 | 44 | 0.0380% |
| 1893 | #240 | 52 | 0.0463% |
| 1892 | #294 | 39 | 0.0320% |
| 1891 | #300 | 31 | 0.0306% |
| 1890 | #287 | 37 | 0.0333% |
| 1889 | #278 | 37 | 0.0335% |
| 1888 | #253 | 48 | 0.0397% |
| 1887 | #229 | 48 | 0.0473% |
| 1886 | #246 | 49 | 0.0442% |
| 1885 | #215 | 56 | 0.0519% |
| 1884 | #221 | 56 | 0.0489% |
| 1883 | #213 | 51 | 0.0487% |
| 1882 | #223 | 54 | 0.0475% |
| 1881 | #198 | 57 | 0.0566% |
| 1880 | #263 | 41 | 0.0371% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
