Joel

Meaning: Yahweh is God
Origin: Hebrew

Nicknames: Joe

Boy's name · #219 in the US (2025) · 80s wave

Popularity over time

Joel reached #65 in 1981 and has eased to #219 since. About 280,000 boys have carried it since 1880. In all that time it has never once missed a year of the national records.

Across the states

See where Joel is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 47 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Joel ranks in other countries and regions.

#22 in Finland (Finnish-sp.) (2025) · #84 in Spain (2024) · #111 in Sweden (2025) · #126 in Ecuador (2025) · #134 in Mexico (2024) · #140 in N. Ireland (2025) · #147 in Netherlands (2025) · #178 in Norway (2025) · #192 in Switzerland (2025) · #195 in Puerto Rico (2025) · #223 in England & Wales (2025) · #263 in New Zealand (2025) and 7 more.

Famous Joels

Joel Schumacher — American director, screenwriter, and producer (1939–2020)
Joel — Biblical prophet associated with the Book of Joel
Joël Matip — Cameroonian-German association football player (born 1991)
Joel McHale — American actor and comedian
Joel Kinnaman — Swedish-American actor

In stories & tradition

Joel — The Last of Us (TV series)
Joel^es — First Book of Samuel (Bible)
Joel Dexter — Hollyoaks (TV series)

What Joels become

Among 3,227 notable people named Joel:

Political leaders appear 1.41× more often than among typical names — e.g. Joel Barlow, American poet, diplomat, politician and businessman (1754–1812).

Spellings & nicknames

About 270 boys a year are given Joe as their full name.

Similar names: Yoel · Adam · Jose · Jeremy · Abel · Johnny

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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