Joel Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Joel is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Joel?
Joel is spelled J-O-E-L. The name has 4 letters.
Joel at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Derived from the Hebrew name Yo“el, meaning ”Yahweh is God' or “Jehovah is God.”
- Origin
- Joel is associated with Hebrew origins and biblical contexts through the name of a prophet in the Hebrew Bible.
- Pronunciation
- JOH-el · 2 syllables
Joel Popularity in 2025
Rank#13,208
Recorded Births6
Rank#219
Recorded Births1,633
- Girls usage fell 2,086 places to #13,208 and recorded 2 fewer births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage held steady at #219 and recorded 5 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Joel Mean?
Derived from the Hebrew name Yo“el, meaning ”Yahweh is God' or “Jehovah is God.”
Origin: Joel is associated with Hebrew origins and biblical contexts through the name of a prophet in the Hebrew Bible.
How Do You Pronounce Joel?
PronunciationJOH-el
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Joel?
- History
- Joel has been used historically within Jewish and Christian religious traditions as the name of a biblical prophet.
Joel Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2012 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 6 | #13,208 |
| 2025 | Boys | 1,633 | #219 |
| 2024 | Girls | 8 | #11,122 |
| 2024 | Boys | 1,638 | #219 |
| 2023 | Girls | 8 | #11,169 |
| 2023 | Boys | 1,745 | #212 |
| 2022 | Boys | 1,780 | #209 |
| 2021 | Girls | 7 | #12,206 |
| 2021 | Boys | 1,797 | #211 |
| 2020 | Boys | 1,843 | #207 |
| 2019 | Girls | 6 | #13,799 |
| 2019 | Boys | 2,095 | #187 |
| 2018 | Girls | 8 | #11,427 |
| 2018 | Boys | 2,132 | #188 |
| 2017 | Girls | 6 | #14,124 |
| 2017 | Boys | 2,265 | #177 |
| 2016 | Girls | 10 | #10,113 |
| 2016 | Boys | 2,427 | #166 |
| 2015 | Girls | 5 | #16,419 |
| 2015 | Boys | 2,602 | #158 |
| 2014 | Girls | 11 | #9,517 |
| 2014 | Boys | 2,672 | #154 |
| 2013 | Boys | 2,727 | #144 |
| 2012 | Boys | 2,780 | #144 |
When Was Joel Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1985 · Boys
4,623 recorded births
National rank #67
1980 · Boys
4,564 recorded births
National rank #67
1981 · Boys
4,540 recorded births
National rank #65
1984 · Boys
4,524 recorded births
National rank #66
Where Joel Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| NM | #134 | 14 |
| TX | #151 | 254 |
| CA | #152 | 254 |
| MD | #159 | 37 |
| NV | #171 | 17 |
| AZ | #172 | 51 |
| IA | #191 | 21 |
| ND | #191 | 6 |