Joel Name Meaning

Helen Doanna

By Helen Doanna

Lastest Updated July 9, 2024
Home » Baby Names » Joel Name Meaning

Fact: Billy Joel, also known as the “Piano Man,” is one of the most famous bearers of the name. His music has influenced multiple generations.

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A Deep Dive

Joel Overview

Meaning

Jehovah is the Lord, Yahweh is God, the Lord is God

Gender

Boy

Origin

Hebrew

Etymology

Derived from the Hebrew name “Yoel,” meaning “Yahweh is God.”

Pronunciation

/ˈdʒoʊəl/

Popularity

Joel is popular in many countries, including the USA and Spain. In 2023, Joel ranked #173 for boys in the USA.

Syllable

1 syllable

Length

4 letters

Numerology

6 (Nurturing, Responsible, Balanced)

Name Styles

Traditional, Religious and Spiritual, Classic

Associated Traits

Wise, strong, faithful

Spiritual, Religious, or Cultural Significance

Often associated with the biblical prophet Joel, who authored the Book of Joel in the Old Testament.

Name Day

July 13 (Spain)
A Deep Dive

Joel Variations in Different Cultures

Popular Variations

Joe, Joell, Yoel, Joele, Joellin

Common Nicknames

Joey, Jojo, Jay

Diminutives

Jo, J, Jol

Famous People

  • Joel Osteen
    (American Pastor)
  • Joel McHale
    (American Actor and Comedian)
  • Joel Coen
    (American Director)
  • Joel Kinnaman
    (Swedish-American Actor)
  • Joel Grey
    (American Actor)
  • Joel Edgerton
    (Australian Actor)
  • Joel Embiid
    (Cameroonian Basketball Player)

Pop Culture Icons and Works

  • Joel Miller
    ("The Last of Us," Video Game)
  • Joel Barish
    ("Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," Film)
  • "Joel"
    (Novel)
  • Joel Fleischman
    ("Northern Exposure," TV Series)
  • Joel Goodson
    ("Risky Business," Film)

Places

  • Joel Community
    (Georgia, USA)
  • Sol Joel Park
    (Berkshire, England)
  • Joel Street
    (London, England)
  • Lewin G. Joel School
    (Connecticut, USA)
  • Joel Lane Museum House
    (North Carolina, USA)

What Is the Meaning of Joel?

Joel means “Yahweh is God” and is often associated with individuals who are spiritual and insightful.

What Is the Origin of The Name Joel?

The name Joel has Hebrew origins, deriving from the Hebrew name יוֹאֵל (Yo’el), which means “Yahweh is God.” It is a biblical name found in the Old Testament, signifying deep religious and historical roots.

Joel Name Popularity

Popularity Chart of the Name Joel in the U.S. over the Years

United States flagUnited States#2112021#2092022#2122023
Top 3 Rankings#651981#661984#671980

Annual Statistics Breakdown for Joel

YearName RankingNumber of BirthsBirth Rate (%)
2023212
(-3 from 2022)
1728
(-48 from 2022)
0.09437
2022209
(+2 from 2021)
1776
(-21 from 2021)
0.09482
2021211
(-4 from 2020)
1797
(-44 from 2020)
0.09591
2020207
(-20 from 2019)
1841
(-251 from 2019)
0.09953
2019187
(+1 from 2018)
2092
(-38 from 2018)
0.10886
2018188
(-11 from 2017)
2130
(-131 from 2017)
0.10958
2017177
(-11 from 2016)
2261
(-165 from 2016)
0.11424
2016166
(-8 from 2015)
2426
(-176 from 2015)
0.11977
2015158
(-4 from 2014)
2602
(-64 from 2014)
0.12727
2014154
(-10 from 2013)
2666
(-61 from 2013)
0.13010
2013144
No change from 2012
2727
(-51 from 2012)
0.13495
2012144
(-12 from 2011)
2778
(-278 from 2011)
0.13690
2011132
No change from 2010
3056
(-9 from 2010)
0.15044
2010132
(-16 from 2009)
3065
(-497 from 2009)
0.14919
2009116
(-3 from 2008)
3562
(-181 from 2008)
0.16795
2008113
(+10 from 2007)
3743
(+323 from 2007)
0.17166
2007123
No change from 2006
3420
(-34 from 2006)
0.15440
2006123
No change from 2005
3454
(+181 from 2005)
0.15755
2005123
(+1 from 2004)
3273
(+37 from 2004)
0.15385
2004124
No change from 2003
3236
(-9 from 2003)
0.15312
2003124
(-2 from 2002)
3245
(+54 from 2002)
0.15444
2002122
(+4 from 2001)
3191
(+24 from 2001)
0.15440
2001126
(-14 from 2000)
3167
(-213 from 2000)
0.15311
2000112
(+3 from 1999)
3380
(+196 from 1999)
0.16185
1999115
(+2 from 1998)
3184
(+12 from 1998)
0.15615
1998117
(+9 from 1997)
3172
(+183 from 1997)
0.15644
1997126
(-2 from 1996)
2989
(-15 from 1996)
0.14962
1996124
(-4 from 1995)
3004
(-96 from 1995)
0.14992
1995120
(-12 from 1994)
3100
(-268 from 1994)
0.15412
1994108
(-7 from 1993)
3368
(-190 from 1993)
0.16523
1993101
(-1 from 1992)
3558
(-106 from 1992)
0.17226
1992100
No change from 1991
3664
(-95 from 1991)
0.17455
1991100
(-6 from 1990)
3759
(-241 from 1990)
0.17734
199094
(-6 from 1989)
4000
(+60 from 1989)
0.18587
198988
(-3 from 1988)
3940
(+2 from 1988)
0.18798
198885
(-10 from 1987)
3938
(-199 from 1987)
0.19668
198775
(-3 from 1986)
4137
(-369 from 1986)
0.21213
198672
(-5 from 1985)
4506
(-117 from 1985)
0.23448
198567
(-1 from 1984)
4623
(+99 from 1984)
0.24023
198466
(+1 from 1983)
4524
(+179 from 1983)
0.24106
198367
(+2 from 1982)
4345
(-101 from 1982)
0.23315
198269
(-4 from 1981)
4446
(-94 from 1981)
0.23559
198165
(+2 from 1980)
4540
(-26 from 1980)
0.24377
198067
(+4 from 1979)
4566
(+351 from 1979)
0.24618
197971
(+3 from 1978)
4215
(+406 from 1978)
0.23530
197874
(-1 from 1977)
3809
(-14 from 1977)
0.22293
197773
(-1 from 1976)
3823
(+98 from 1976)
0.22365
197672
(+2 from 1975)
3725
(-3 from 1975)
0.22817
197574
(+1 from 1974)
3728
(+236 from 1974)
0.22978
197475
(-2 from 1973)
3492
(-78 from 1973)
0.21420
197373
(+5 from 1972)
3570
(+42 from 1972)
0.22124
197278
(+8 from 1971)
3528
(+30 from 1971)
0.21075
197186
(-4 from 1970)
3498
(-343 from 1970)
0.19242
197082
(-2 from 1969)
3841
(+161 from 1969)
0.20165
196980
No change from 1968
3680
(-3 from 1968)
0.20119
196880
(+10 from 1967)
3683
(+204 from 1967)
0.20744
196790
(+12 from 1966)
3479
(+250 from 1966)
0.19551
1966102
(+12 from 1965)
3229
(+369 from 1965)
0.17765
1965114
(-4 from 1964)
2860
(-278 from 1964)
0.15096
1964110
No change from 1963
3138
(-97 from 1963)
0.15481
1963110
(+3 from 1962)
3235
(-64 from 1962)
0.15669
1962113
(-3 from 1961)
3299
(-219 from 1961)
0.15697
1961110
No change from 1960
3518
(-191 from 1960)
0.16310
1960110
(+6 from 1959)
3709
(+252 from 1959)
0.17129
1959116
(+4 from 1958)
3457
(+233 from 1958)
0.15957
1958120
(-16 from 1957)
3224
(-380 from 1957)
0.14961
1957104
(+2 from 1956)
3604
(+168 from 1956)
0.16465
1956106
(+15 from 1955)
3436
(+630 from 1955)
0.16009
1955121
(+6 from 1954)
2806
(+210 from 1954)
0.13424
1954127
(+7 from 1953)
2596
(+294 from 1953)
0.12546
1953134
(-2 from 1952)
2302
(+73 from 1952)
0.11497
1952132
(-3 from 1951)
2229
(+67 from 1951)
0.11296
1951129
(+1 from 1950)
2162
(+119 from 1950)
0.11309
1950130
(+8 from 1949)
2043
(+56 from 1949)
0.11233
1949138
(-1 from 1948)
1987
(-39 from 1948)
0.11027
1948137
(-4 from 1947)
2026
(-118 from 1947)
0.11364
1947133
(-6 from 1946)
2144
(+145 from 1946)
0.11542
1946127
(+7 from 1945)
1999
(+402 from 1945)
0.12112
1945134
(-9 from 1944)
1597
(-117 from 1944)
0.11645
1944125
(+3 from 1943)
1714
(-31 from 1943)
0.12338
1943128
(+6 from 1942)
1745
(+150 from 1942)
0.11996
1942134
(+8 from 1941)
1595
(+256 from 1941)
0.11326
1941142
(-2 from 1940)
1339
(+61 from 1940)
0.10671
1940140
(-5 from 1939)
1278
(-17 from 1939)
0.10774
1939135
(-1 from 1938)
1295
(+33 from 1938)
0.11427
1938134
(+5 from 1937)
1262
(+146 from 1937)
0.11104
1937139
(+7 from 1936)
1116
(+56 from 1936)
0.10204
1936146
(+11 from 1935)
1060
(+141 from 1935)
0.09960
1935157
(+15 from 1934)
919
(+104 from 1934)
0.08592
1934172
(+13 from 1933)
815
(+149 from 1933)
0.07675
1933185
(+22 from 1932)
666
(+43 from 1932)
0.06528
1932207
(+35 from 1931)
623
(+146 from 1931)
0.05798
1931242
(+21 from 1930)
477
(+22 from 1930)
0.04459
1930263
(+9 from 1929)
455
(+35 from 1929)
0.04028
1929272
(+6 from 1928)
420
(+5 from 1928)
0.03792
1928278
(+6 from 1927)
415
(+23 from 1927)
0.03637
1927284
(+7 from 1926)
392
(+13 from 1926)
0.03374
1926291
(+3 from 1925)
379
No change from 1925
0.03309
1925294
(+1 from 1924)
379
(+2 from 1924)
0.03292
1924295
(+8 from 1923)
377
(+29 from 1923)
0.03225
1923303
(-9 from 1922)
348
(-20 from 1922)
0.03073
1922294
(-13 from 1921)
368
(-27 from 1921)
0.03271
1921281
(+27 from 1920)
395
(+49 from 1920)
0.03471
1920308
(-28 from 1919)
346
(-12 from 1919)
0.03143
1919280
(+14 from 1918)
358
(+10 from 1918)
0.03526
1918294
(+6 from 1917)
348
(+40 from 1917)
0.03319
1917300
(+9 from 1916)
308
(+26 from 1916)
0.03211
1916309
(+2 from 1915)
282
(+10 from 1915)
0.03054
1915311
(+10 from 1914)
272
(+72 from 1914)
0.03088
1914321
(-14 from 1913)
200
(+33 from 1913)
0.02927
1913307
(+25 from 1912)
167
(+38 from 1912)
0.03114
1912332
(+25 from 1911)
129
(+70 from 1911)
0.02857
1911357
(-25 from 1910)
59
(+4 from 1910)
0.02444
1910332
(-7 from 1909)
55
(+5 from 1909)
0.02638
1909325
(+10 from 1908)
50
(+5 from 1908)
0.02827
1908335
(-49 from 1907)
45
(-9 from 1907)
0.02705
1907286
No change from 1906
54
(+5 from 1906)
0.03405
1906286
(-2 from 1905)
49
(+1 from 1905)
0.03401
1905284
(+10 from 1904)
48
(+5 from 1904)
0.03351
1904294
(+46 from 1903)
43
(+11 from 1903)
0.03105
1903340
(-28 from 1902)
32
(-6 from 1902)
0.02474
1902312
(-10 from 1901)
38
(+4 from 1901)
0.02863
1901302
(+73 from 1900)
34
(-1 from 1900)
0.02941
1900375
(-89 from 1899)
35
(-2 from 1899)
0.02159
1899286
(-31 from 1898)
37
(-11 from 1898)
0.03212
1898255
(+76 from 1897)
48
(+17 from 1897)
0.03634
1897331
(-25 from 1896)
31
(-6 from 1896)
0.02542
1896306
(-11 from 1895)
37
No change from 1895
0.02867
1895295
(-34 from 1894)
37
(-7 from 1894)
0.02922
1894261
(-22 from 1893)
44
(-8 from 1893)
0.03523
1893239
(+53 from 1892)
52
(+13 from 1892)
0.04296
1892292
(+5 from 1891)
39
(+8 from 1891)
0.02967
1891297
(-15 from 1890)
31
(-6 from 1890)
0.02837
1890282
(-8 from 1889)
37
No change from 1889
0.03091
1889274
(-22 from 1888)
37
(-11 from 1888)
0.03108
1888252
(-25 from 1887)
48
No change from 1887
0.03695
1887227
(+16 from 1886)
48
(-1 from 1886)
0.04391
1886243
(-30 from 1885)
49
(-7 from 1885)
0.04116
1885213
(+8 from 1884)
56
No change from 1884
0.04830
1884221
(-9 from 1883)
56
(+5 from 1883)
0.04563
1883212
(+10 from 1882)
51
(-3 from 1882)
0.04534
1882222
(-25 from 1881)
54
(-3 from 1881)
0.04425
1881197
(+65 from 1880)
57
(+16 from 1880)
0.05264
1880262
First SSA data recorded
41
First SSA data recorded
0.03463

American States Popularity Rankings for Joel

(From the Most to Least Popular, Based on Number of Births )

California (CA)

California (CA) flagCalifornia (CA)#1602021#1452022#1582023

Texas (TX)

Texas (TX) flagTexas (TX)#1282021#1292022#1472023

New York (NY)

New York (NY) flagNew York (NY)#1342021#1862022#2002023

Illinois (IL)

Illinois (IL) flagIllinois (IL)#2342021#2142022#1762023

Pennsylvania (PA)

Pennsylvania (PA) flagPennsylvania (PA)#2302021#2952022#2462023

Florida (FL)

Florida (FL) flagFlorida (FL)#2022021#2012022#2102023

Michigan (MI)

Michigan (MI) flagMichigan (MI)#2782021#3602022#2812023

Ohio (OH)

Ohio (OH) flagOhio (OH)#2662021#2782022#1922023

Georgia (GA)

Georgia (GA) flagGeorgia (GA)#2282021#2322022#2372023

Minnesota (MN)

Minnesota (MN) flagMinnesota (MN)#4432021#4922022#2652023

North Carolina (NC)

North Carolina (NC) flagNorth Carolina (NC)#2362021#1682022#2122023

New Jersey (NJ)

New Jersey (NJ) flagNew Jersey (NJ)#2162021#1532022#1862023

Wisconsin (WI)

Wisconsin (WI) flagWisconsin (WI)#2782021#3922022#3402023

Washington (WA)

Washington (WA) flagWashington (WA)#2372021#2302022#2022023

Massachusetts (MA)

Massachusetts (MA) flagMassachusetts (MA)#2602021#2042022#2742023

Indiana (IN)

Indiana (IN) flagIndiana (IN)#2102021#2012022#1922023

Iowa (IA)

Iowa (IA) flagIowa (IA)#3702021#2282022#3172023

Alabama (AL)

Alabama (AL) flagAlabama (AL)#3972021#2972022#3682023

Virginia (VA)

Virginia (VA) flagVirginia (VA)#1962021#1732022#2142023

Tennessee (TN)

Tennessee (TN) flagTennessee (TN)#2562021#3032022#2562023

Arizona (AZ)

Arizona (AZ) flagArizona (AZ)#1782021#2052022#1762023

Missouri (MO)

Missouri (MO) flagMissouri (MO)#3652021#3732022#2372023

Colorado (CO)

Colorado (CO) flagColorado (CO)#2542021#2082022#2352023

Louisiana (LA)

Louisiana (LA) flagLouisiana (LA)#3082021#2872022#3172023

South Carolina (SC)

South Carolina (SC) flagSouth Carolina (SC)#2832021#6022022#3022023

Oklahoma (OK)

Oklahoma (OK) flagOklahoma (OK)#1772021#2062022#2802023

Maryland (MD)

Maryland (MD) flagMaryland (MD)#1772021#1652022#1582023

Oregon (OR)

Oregon (OR) flagOregon (OR)#3172021#2822022#2442023

Kansas (KS)

Kansas (KS) flagKansas (KS)#2652021#2242022#1582023

Connecticut (CT)

Connecticut (CT) flagConnecticut (CT)#1892021#2282022#2592023

Mississippi (MS)

Mississippi (MS) flagMississippi (MS)#3342021#3532022#2882023

Nebraska (NE)

Nebraska (NE) flagNebraska (NE)#2672021#2922022#2802023

Kentucky (KY)

Kentucky (KY) flagKentucky (KY)#2462021#2982022#3902023

Arkansas (AR)

Arkansas (AR) flagArkansas (AR)#3162021#2292022#3452023

Utah (UT)

Utah (UT) flagUtah (UT)#4162021#3062022#3362023

New Mexico (NM)

New Mexico (NM) flagNew Mexico (NM)#1732021#2962022#2192023

Maine (ME)

Maine (ME) flagMaine (ME)#1852008#2422012#1992014

North Dakota (ND)

North Dakota (ND) flagNorth Dakota (ND)#2112015#2742016#1282019

Nevada (NV)

Nevada (NV) flagNevada (NV)#1952021#2152022#3302023

Idaho (ID)

Idaho (ID) flagIdaho (ID)#2202020#2942021#2922023

West Virginia (WV)

West Virginia (WV) flagWest Virginia (WV)#3162021#2772022#2232023

South Dakota (SD)

South Dakota (SD) flagSouth Dakota (SD)#2042014#2282017#2032018

District of Columbia (DC)

District of Columbia (DC) flagDistrict of Columbia (DC)#2112018#942019#862021

Rhode Island (RI)

Rhode Island (RI) flagRhode Island (RI)#1582019#1462021#1862023

Hawaii (HI)

Hawaii (HI) flagHawaii (HI)#2722019#2582021#2312023

Montana (MT)

Montana (MT) flagMontana (MT)#2252014#1872015#2532021

New Hampshire (NH)

New Hampshire (NH) flagNew Hampshire (NH)#2442016#2402019#1882023

Alaska (AK)

Alaska (AK) flagAlaska (AK)#2262018#1602019#1942020

Delaware (DE)

Delaware (DE) flagDelaware (DE)#1272020#1932021#1512022

Wyoming (WY)

Wyoming (WY) flagWyoming (WY)#1142005#1582008#1232010

Vermont (VT)

Vermont (VT) flagVermont (VT)#1301991#991992#1051995

Popularity Rankings for Joel in other Countries and American Territories

(From the Most to Least Popular, Based on Rankings)

Popularity in Finland

Finland flagFinland#102021#132022#192023

Popularity in Catalonia, Spain

Catalonia, Spain flagCatalonia, Spain#142013#182014#202015

Popularity in Galicia, Spain

Galicia, Spain flagGalicia, Spain#442012#472013#452014

Popularity in Other American Territories

American Samoa flag American Samoa
Guam flag Guam
Northern Mariana Islands flag Northern Mariana Islands
U.S. Virgin Islands flag U.S. Virgin Islands

Other American Territories flagOther American Territories#572007#612009#522014

Popularity in Basque Country, Spain

Basque Country, Spain flagBasque Country, Spain#642014#872015#972017

Popularity in Spain

Spain flagSpain#702020#772021#762022

Popularity in Portugal

Portugal flagPortugal#732012

Popularity in Australia (NSW)

Australia (NSW) flagAustralia (NSW)#802008#812009#1002010

Popularity in Switzerland

Switzerland flagSwitzerland#822020#912021#1102022

Popularity in Sweden

Sweden flagSweden#1002021#942022#992023

Popularity in Uruguay

Uruguay flagUruguay#1002023

Popularity in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland flagNorthern Ireland#1342021#1092022#1182023

Popularity in Argentina

Argentina flagArgentina#1102013#1212014#1202015

Popularity in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico flagPuerto Rico#2222021#1782022#1422023

Popularity in Mexico

Mexico flagMexico#1572020#1462021

Popularity in Norway

Norway flagNorway#1482021#1532022#1592023

Popularity in Austria

Austria flagAustria#1862019#1552020#1662021

Popularity in Chile

Chile flagChile#1562018#1622019#1962021

Popularity in England and Wales

England and Wales flagEngland and Wales#1642019#1612020#1732021

Popularity in Germany

Germany flagGermany#1612021#1732022#1632023

Popularity in Scotland

Scotland flagScotland#2072021#2432022#3042023

Popularity in Canada

Canada flagCanada#2872021#3332022#2402023

Popularity in New Zealand

New Zealand flagNew Zealand#3492021#3142022#2882023

Popularity in Iceland

Iceland flagIceland#2942022

Popularity in Poland

Poland flagPoland#2972021#4592022#3872023

Popularity in Quebec, Canada

Quebec, Canada flagQuebec, Canada#3472020#3362021#3512022

Popularity in Ireland

Ireland flagIreland#3492021#3802022#5162023

Source: Social Security Administration (SSA) and Other National Sources

Is Joel a Name for Boys or Girls?

Though used for both boys and girls, Joel is a name more commonly given to boys, tracing back to its traditional and historical use.

Variants, Nicknames, Diminutives, and Ideal Middle Names for Joel

Joel in Famous People Names, Pop Culture, and Places

  • Joel Osteen (Pastor, born 1963): An American televangelist and author, he leads Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, and has written several bestselling books.
  • Joel McHale (Actor, born 1971): An American comedian and actor best known for hosting "The Soup" and his role in the TV show "Community."
  • Joel Coen (Director, born 1954): An American filmmaker, one half of the Coen Brothers, responsible for movies like "Fargo" and "No Country for Old Men."
  • Joel Kinnaman (Actor, born 1979): A Swedish-American actor recognized for his roles in "The Killing" and "Suicide Squad."
  • Joel Grey (Actor, born 1932): An American actor, singer, and dancer, he won an Academy Award for his role in "Cabaret."
  • Joel Edgerton (Actor, born 1974): An Australian actor and filmmaker featured in movies like "The Great Gatsby" and "Loving."
  • Joel Embiid (Athlete, born 1994): A Cameroonian professional basketball player playing for the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA.
  • Joel Miller ("The Last of Us," 2013 Video Game): A hardened survivor in a post-apocalyptic world who escorts a young girl across the United States.
  • Joel Barish ("Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," 2004 Film): A man who undergoes a procedure to erase memories of his former lover.
  • "Joel" (2002 Novel): A coming-of-age story about a young boy named Joel navigating the challenges of adolescence.