boy name
Joel
Gender
Boy
Popularity
#219 · U.S. boys (2025)
Popularity of Joel in the US, 1880–2025
Joel first appears in US records in 1880. It peaked in 1985, when 4,623 boys were given the name; in 2025 there were 1,633.
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Is Joel popular?
Declining Joel is given less often than it was a decade ago, well below its 1985 peak.
| 2020s | 10,436 | |
|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 25,821 | |
| 2000s | 33,681 | |
| 1990s | 33,804 | |
| 1980s | 43,566 | |
| 1970s | 37,228 | |
| 1960s | 33,832 | |
| 1950s | 27,859 | |
| 1940s | 17,424 | |
| 1930s | 8,689 | |
| 1920s | 3,819 | |
| 1910s | 2,178 | |
| 1900s | 428 | |
| 1890s | 393 | |
| 1880s | 497 |
Counts from US Social Security Administration data, 1880–2025.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Joel a boy or a girl name?
Joel is most commonly used as a boy name.
Is Joel a popular name right now?
Joel is given less often than it was a decade ago, well below its 1985 peak.
How popular is the name Joel?
In 2025, Joel ranked #219 among boys’ names in the United States, according to U.S. Social Security Administration data.
When was the name Joel most popular?
Joel was most popular in 1985, when about 4,623 US babies were given the name that year, according to US Social Security Administration records.