Boy name · Hebrew
Joel
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: Yahweh is GodJoel is a boy's name that comes from Hebrew and means "Yahweh is God". It is used in English, Hebrew, Scandinavian, Spanish and French.
- Meaning
- Yahweh is God
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #219 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Joel
As a boy's name, Joel comes from Hebrew and means "Yahweh is God". It is used in English, Hebrew, Scandinavian, Spanish and French. In French it is spelled Joël.
In French, say zhoh-EL. In Spanish, say hoh-EL. Respellings are a guide; accents vary by region.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Joel on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Joel on 6 lists.
“Yahweh is God; Hebrew. Minor prophet who described a locust plague”
From Biblical names, names of prophets and kings
“Yahweh is God; Hebrew. A minor prophet”
From Classic boy names, classic biblical boy names
“Hebrew for 'the Lord is God'”
From Priest names, priestly names from Latin, Greek and Hebrew
“Yahweh is God; Hebrew, a prophet with a short book”
From Cute boy names, cute biblical boy names
“Yahweh is God; Hebrew. Say zhoh-EL”
From French boy names, retro French male names from the 1950s to the 1970s
“Yahweh is God; Hebrew. A minor prophet. Say hoh-EL”
From Mexican boy names, mexican boy names from the Bible
How popular is Joel?
- US rank in 2025
- #219
- 1,633 babies, 956 per million boys
- Best rank
- #65 in 1981
- Most babies: 4,623 in 1985
- Babies since 1880
- At least 279,655
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 454 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 344 per million |
| 1900s | 315 per million |
| 1910s | 326 per million |
| 1920s | 347 per million |
| 1930s | 822 per million |
| 1940s | 1,170 per million |
| 1950s | 1,378 per million |
| 1960s | 1,756 per million |
| 1970s | 2,254 per million |
| 1980s | 2,360 per million |
| 1990s | 1,735 per million |
| 2000s | 1,687 per million |
| 2010s | 1,373 per million |
| 2020s | 1,007 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #166 | #177 | #188 | #187 | #207 | #211 | #209 | #212 | #219 | #219 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Other forms of Joel
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
- GioeleYahweh is God (Hebrew, boy)
- JoabYahweh is father (Hebrew, boy)
- YoelYahweh is God (Hebrew, boy)
Names spelled like Joel
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- JoeHe will add (Hebrew, boy)
- JoeyHe will add (Hebrew, boy)
- JoséHe will add (Hebrew, boy)
- JarlChieftain or nobleman (Old Norse, boy)
- JieOutstanding, heroic (depends on characters) (Chinese, boy)
- JoanGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
- JoãoGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
- JoarHorse warrior (Old Norse, boy)
- JockGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
Names with a similar meaning
- EliasMy God is Yahweh (Hebrew, boy)
- JonathanYahweh has given (Hebrew, boy)
- ElijahMy God is Yahweh (Hebrew, boy)
- ElliotMy God is Yahweh (Hebrew, boy)
- ElliottMy God is Yahweh (Hebrew, unisex)
- EllisMy God is Yahweh (Hebrew, unisex)
- HezekiahYahweh strengthens (Hebrew, boy)
- JoshuaYahweh is salvation (Hebrew, boy)
- JosiahYahweh supports (Hebrew, boy)
- MicahWho is like Yahweh? (Hebrew, boy)
Middle names for Joel
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
- ChristopherBearer of Christ (Greek, boy)
- FlorianFlourishing, blossoming (Latin, boy)
- GeraldPower of the spear (Germanic, boy)
- LangstonLong stone (Old English, boy)
- MarshallHorse servant (English, boy)
- ThomasA twin (Aramaic, boy)
- ValentineStrong, healthy (Latin, unisex)
- WalterRuler of the army (Germanic, boy)
More boy names from Hebrew
- AdamMan, humankind (Hebrew, boy)
- DavidBeloved one (Hebrew, boy)
- DanielGod is my judge (Hebrew, boy)
- NoahRest, repose (Hebrew, boy)
- GabrielGod is my strength (Hebrew, boy)
- AxelMy father is peace (Hebrew, boy)
- BenjaminSon of the right hand (Hebrew, boy)
- IsaacHe will laugh (Hebrew, boy)
- JanGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
- SamuelName of God (Hebrew, boy)
Joel: common questions
What does the name Joel mean?
Joel comes from Hebrew and means "Yahweh is God".
Is Joel a boy or girl name?
Joel is mainly a boy's name. In 2025, 6 girls and 1,633 boys in the US were named Joel, according to Social Security Administration data.
Where does the name Joel come from?
Joel comes from Hebrew and means "Yahweh is God". Today it is used in English, Hebrew, Scandinavian, Spanish and French.
How popular is the name Joel?
Joel ranked #219 in the US in 2025, with 1,633 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Joel?
Forms of Joel with the same meaning and origin include Gioele (Italian), Joab (English) and Yoel (Hebrew).
What middle names go with Joel?
Middle names that flow well with Joel include Christopher, Florian, Gerald, Langston and Marshall. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.