Baby Name Popularity Profile

Joel

Data-driven SSA statistics, rankings, and historical trends for Joel.

✦ Yahweh is God 🌍 Hebrew biblical traditional
National Rank (2025) #219
All-Time Peak Rank #65 Achieved 1981
Total U.S. Births 279,655 since 1880
Unisex Distribution 99.7% Boy / 0.3% Girl Overwhelmingly Male
First Recorded 1880 Last seen: 2025
Peak Decade 1980s 4,623 births in 1985
πŸ’‘ The Joel Vibe: Considered a Declining Classic. A previously dominant name currently experiencing a prolonged generational cooling period.

🌍 Meaning & Etymology

Primary Meaning Yahweh is God
Language Origin Hebrew
Origin Type single
Derived from the Hebrew name Yo'el (Χ™Χ•ΦΉΧΦ΅Χœ), meaning 'Yahweh is God'.
Common Nicknames
Joe
Alternative Spellings
JoΓ«l
Pronunciation: JO-el
Themes & Categories
biblical traditional
Etymology confidence: High

πŸ“– The Story Behind Joel

According to SSA data, Joel achieved its highest historical rank of #65 in 1981. Its highest annual registration volume occurred in 1985 with 4,623 babies. Between 2015 and 2025, modern registrations have decreased by 37.2%. Overall, the name has maintained a ranked presence for 146 consecutive years.

πŸ“Š Factual Timeline & Current Trajectory (1880 – 2025)

Registration footprint of Joel across 145 years of SSA data.

5-Year Trajectory Declining
10-Year Shift -37.2% Decline
18801920196020002025

πŸ“ˆ Popularity Milestones & Volatility

Busiest Year on Record 4,623 births in 1985
Years in Top 100 26 yrs
Years in Top 500 146 yrs
Registry Streak 146 yrs
Historical Volatility Moderately Volatile
Largest 1-Year Jump N/A
Decade-by-Decade Registration Volumes
1880s: 497
1890s: 393
1900s: 428
1910s: 2,178
1920s: 3,819
1930s: 8,689
1940s: 17,424
1950s: 27,859
1960s: 33,832
1970s: 37,228
1980s: 43,566
1990s: 33,804
2000s: 33,681
2010s: 25,821
2020s: 10,436

πŸ“ Sound & Spelling Structure

Phonetic Syllables J-oe
Letter Count 4 letters
Spelling Complexity Easy
Length Percentile Longer than 1.4% of names
Linguistic Profile: It is an isogram, meaning no two letters are repeated. Longer than 1.4% of SSA names. Starts with J, a letter used by only 7.8% of SSA names.

πŸ› οΈ Sibling & Surname Cadence Tool

Enter a surname or sibling name to test how it pairs with Joel.

πŸ“ Authentic State & Regional Rankings

Highest Ranking State Minnesota
Top States Minnesota, Alaska, Texas, North Dakota, Washington
States with Data 51
State 2025 Rank Total Births Peak Year 5-Yr Velocity
Minnesota #349 7,578 1960 Insufficient historical volume
Alaska Unranked 556 1987 Insufficient historical volume
Texas #151 29,787 2008 18.6% Decline
North Dakota #211 1,242 1956 Insufficient historical volume
Washington #225 5,866 1984 +38.5% Growth
Iowa #199 4,775 1959 Insufficient historical volume
Nevada #178 1,197 2008 Insufficient historical volume
New York #192 26,987 1980 15.4% Decline
California #152 34,411 1990 4.9% Decline
Oregon #204 3,094 1986 Insufficient historical volume
South Dakota #279 1,138 1954 Insufficient historical volume
Arizona #174 4,097 2005 7.3% Decline
New Mexico #141 1,796 1989 Insufficient historical volume
Wisconsin #362 6,523 1969 Insufficient historical volume
Florida #202 11,114 2008 15.5% Decline
Nebraska #355 2,313 1978 Insufficient historical volume
Colorado #212 3,663 1982 +24.0% Growth
Maine Unranked 1,284 1958 Insufficient historical volume
Idaho #290 1,151 1982 Insufficient historical volume
Georgia #235 7,895 1969 11.9% Decline
Michigan #317 10,440 1984 18.9% Decline
Hawaii Unranked 820 1971 Insufficient historical volume
Montana Unranked 801 1962 Insufficient historical volume
Alabama #203 4,714 1960 Insufficient historical volume
Kansas #267 2,694 1988 Insufficient historical volume
Illinois #221 12,520 1970 +1.9% Growth
New Jersey #308 6,890 2006 47.2% Decline
Connecticut #228 2,665 1987 Insufficient historical volume
Wyoming Unranked 328 1980 Insufficient historical volume
North Carolina #250 6,950 1963 27.5% Decline
Oklahoma #442 3,219 1986 Insufficient historical volume
Rhode Island Unranked 855 1984 Insufficient historical volume
New Hampshire Unranked 735 1980 Insufficient historical volume
District of Columbia Unranked 1,044 1947 Insufficient historical volume
Indiana #374 5,378 1981 37.5% Decline
Massachusetts #243 5,505 1980 16.7% Decline
Utah #360 1,840 1980 Insufficient historical volume
South Carolina #360 3,238 1963 Insufficient historical volume
Pennsylvania #278 11,526 1981 40.8% Decline
Maryland #162 3,205 2011 +19.4% Growth
Tennessee #276 4,395 1961 Insufficient historical volume
Ohio #245 9,452 1985 3.8% Decline
Virginia #285 4,501 2011 33.3% Decline
Louisiana #300 3,566 1986 Insufficient historical volume
Delaware Unranked 389 2005 Insufficient historical volume
Arkansas #213 2,061 1972 Insufficient historical volume
Mississippi #324 2,391 1968 Insufficient historical volume
Vermont Unranked 323 1979 Insufficient historical volume
Missouri #274 4,013 1985 Insufficient historical volume
Kentucky #363 2,321 1958 Insufficient historical volume
West Virginia #213 1,143 1985 Insufficient historical volume

πŸ‘¨β€πŸ‘©β€πŸ‘§ Sibling Name Suggestions

πŸ‘¦ Brother Suggestions
Derek Marcus Ryan Adam Erik Cory Kory Kori Omid Eron
πŸ‘§ Sister Suggestions
Sara Ashley Rachel Andrea Nina Erin Dara Cara Noel Rina

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