Fun Facts About the Name Peniel
- 338 babies named Peniel: U.S. records list 338 babies given the name Peniel from 1880 through 2025. Even 163 boys received the name Peniel.
What Does the Name Peniel Mean?
Peniel is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "face of God." It is built from the Hebrew word panim (פָּנִים), "face," and El (אֵל), "God," so the literal etymology is simply the two words joined. The Hebrew Bible preserves two vocalizations of the name: Peni'el (פְּנִיאֵל), which English Bibles usually render as Peniel, and Penu'el (פְּנוּאֵל), rendered as Penuel. The customary explanation of the name comes from Jacob's words in Genesis after his night struggle: "I have seen God face to face" (Genesis 32:30). Which of the two Hebrew forms is older is disputed; Penu'el is often treated as the earlier form and Peni'el as a later reshaping, but the details remain uncertain.
Peniel Name History & Origins
Peniel first appears as a place name in the book of Genesis. In Genesis 32, Jacob crosses the Jabbok river at night on his return from Haran and wrestles until daybreak with a mysterious figure; he then names the site Peniel. The very next verse uses the variant form Penu'el, and that spelling, Penuel, is the one used for the town in later biblical books. In Judges 8, Gideon passes through Penuel and punishes its men for refusing him bread; in 1 Kings 12:25, Jeroboam fortifies the town. It lay east of the Jordan near the Jabbok, and English translations differ on which spelling they use in Genesis, with the King James Version printing "Peniel" in verse 30 and "Penuel" in verse 31.
From its use as a biblical place name tied to Jacob's encounter, Peniel was adopted as a personal name in Jewish and later Christian communities. It is found as a given name among Christians in Latin America, the Caribbean, parts of Africa, and the Philippines, as well as in English-speaking countries. The same biblical name was also given to chapels and congregations, a common practice in Wales and elsewhere where Protestant groups named meeting houses after places in scripture.
How Popular is the Name Peniel?
Peniel has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2020. Its best rank was #6,249 in 2018.
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 | #10,718 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 2024 | #9,379 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 2023 | #8,841 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2022 | #13,239 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2021 | #10,922 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2020 | #6,854 | 17 | 0.0011% |
| 2019 | #8,497 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2018 | #10,374 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2017 | #8,667 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2016 | #10,658 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2015 | #10,688 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2014 | #11,710 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2013 | #11,740 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2012 | #18,879 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2011 | #18,892 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2010 | #19,146 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2009 | #19,500 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2006 | #19,323 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2004 | #15,597 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2003 | #17,720 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #10,615 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2023 | #11,892 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2022 | #9,613 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2021 | #11,775 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2020 | #9,324 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2019 | #8,701 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2018 | #6,249 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2017 | #8,648 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2016 | #7,481 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2015 | #11,731 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2014 | #10,444 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2013 | #7,418 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2012 | #9,488 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2010 | #7,977 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2009 | #9,645 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2008 | #9,629 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2007 | #11,990 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2006 | #8,563 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 2004 | #9,679 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1997 | #10,394 | 5 | 0.0003% |
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.
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How the Name Peniel Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have a power of expression, either in speaking or writing. You are in favor for studying and research. You are clever, clear-sighted and intellectual. You don't like to let others know your true feelings. You might be atheistic or agnostic. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You are very intuitive. You have a reservoir of inspired wisdom combined with inherited analytical ability, which could reward you through expressions of spiritual leadership, business analysis, marketing, artistic visions, and scientific research. Operating on spiritual side of your individuality can bring you to the great heights, and drop you off if you neglect your spiritual identity. You are always looking for an opportunity to investigate the unknown, to use and show your mental abilities, to find the purpose and meaning of life. You want to grow wise and to understand people and things. You need privacy to replenish your energy. You have a unique way of thinking, intuitive, reflective, absorbing.
✦ Peniel's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Peniel's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.