Yael Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Yael is used for both girls and boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Yael?
Yael is spelled Y-A-E-L. The name has 4 letters.
Yael at a Glance
- Usage
- Used for both girls and boys
- Meaning
- Yael means “ibex” or “mountain goat” in Hebrew.
- Origin
- Yael is a name of Hebrew origin commonly found in Jewish and Israeli contexts.
- Pronunciation
- YAH-el · 2 syllables
Yael Popularity in 2025
Rank#1,631
Recorded Births127
Rank#817
Recorded Births304
- Girls usage fell 40 places to #1,631 and recorded 5 fewer births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage fell 32 places to #817 and recorded 16 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 Yael Mean?
Yael means “ibex” or “mountain goat” in Hebrew.
Origin: Yael is a name of Hebrew origin commonly found in Jewish and Israeli contexts.
How Do You Pronounce Yael?
PronunciationYAH-el
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Yael?
- History
- Yael is a biblical name borne by a heroine in the Book of Judges who played a role in the story of Deborah and Barak.
Yael Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2014 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 127 | #1,631 |
| 2025 | Boys | 304 | #817 |
| 2024 | Girls | 132 | #1,591 |
| 2024 | Boys | 320 | #785 |
| 2023 | Girls | 143 | #1,506 |
| 2023 | Boys | 329 | #775 |
| 2022 | Girls | 166 | #1,381 |
| 2022 | Boys | 225 | #993 |
| 2021 | Girls | 137 | #1,532 |
| 2021 | Boys | 211 | #1,032 |
| 2020 | Girls | 137 | #1,545 |
| 2020 | Boys | 206 | #1,011 |
| 2019 | Girls | 116 | #1,763 |
| 2019 | Boys | 222 | #961 |
| 2018 | Girls | 106 | #1,890 |
| 2018 | Boys | 225 | #933 |
| 2017 | Girls | 119 | #1,761 |
| 2017 | Boys | 197 | #1,023 |
| 2016 | Girls | 126 | #1,693 |
| 2016 | Boys | 182 | #1,080 |
| 2015 | Girls | 108 | #1,883 |
| 2015 | Boys | 178 | #1,092 |
| 2014 | Girls | 111 | #1,830 |
| 2014 | Boys | 235 | #913 |
When Was Yael 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.
2023 · Boys
329 recorded births
National rank #775
2024 · Boys
320 recorded births
National rank #785
2025 · Boys
304 recorded births
National rank #817
2013 · Boys
243 recorded births
National rank #871
Where Yael 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 Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| NY | #473 | 36 |
| NJ | #499 | 15 |
| MD | #651 | 7 |
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| MA | #378 | 13 |
| AZ | #412 | 18 |
| NC | #512 | 19 |
| NJ | #523 | 14 |
| TX | #602 | 51 |
| MD | #634 | 7 |
| CA | #708 | 38 |
| IL | #711 | 12 |