How Many People Are Named Joel?
Complete statistics for the name Joel: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Joel means 'God is gracious' and has been a beloved choice for centuries. That's about 1 in 1,408 Americans today, making it uncommon yet familiar. The name peaked in popularity back in 1985 with 4,661 births.
📖 Meaning & Origin
People with the life path number 6 are often seen as natural caregivers and peacemakers.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 47All 280,543 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1985Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Declining
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Joel Through the Generations
Over the decades, Joel has seen its fair share of ups and downs, but it remains a steady presence in American naming trends. With an estimated 234,306 people named Joel currently living in the United States, the name's reach spans across different age groups. About 28% of those named Joel are under 30, while 43% fall within the 30-60 age bracket, and 29% are over 60. This distribution suggests a balanced representation across generations, though the trend shows a slight decline since its peak in 1985.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
⭐ Famous People Named Joel
Joel or Yoel is a male name derived from יוֹאֵל Standard Hebrew, Yoʾel, Tiberian Hebrew, or Yôʾēl, meaning "Yahu is El", "YHWH is God", or the modern translation "Yahweh is God".…
Full list on Wikipedia →🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Joel's Hebrew roots
📄 About the Name Joel
How Many People Have the Name Joel?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 1,821 people in the United States currently share the name Joel. That works out to roughly 1 in every 182,015 Americans, placing it in the Very Rare category.
Is Joel a Common or Rare Name?
Joel is classified as Very Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Joel Mean?
Joel means "God is gracious" and comes from Hebrew origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 6.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Joel in SSA data, approximately 99% are male and 1% are female.
When Was Joel Most Popular?
The name Joel reached peak popularity in 1985, with 4,661 babies registered that year. Current trend: Declining.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Joel?
Approximately 1,821 people named Joel live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 1,821. That works out to roughly 1 in 182,015 Americans.
Is Joel a rare name?
Joel is classified as Very Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 182,015 Americans has this name.
What does the name Joel mean?
Joel means "God is gracious" and comes from Hebrew origins.
Is Joel more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 99% of people named Joel are male and 1% are female.
When was Joel most popular?
Joel peaked in 1985 with 4,661 births that year. Current trend: Declining.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.