Joel

#13,208 for girls in 2025, 6 births · #219 for boys in 2025, 1,633 births
Given to boys 99.1% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · boys
1981 · 4,540 births
Debut · boys
41 births
In top 100 · boys
26 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · boys
279,655
since 1880

Joel over time

boys

Rank among boys' names. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100rank188019001920194019601980200020201926peak #65, 1981boys
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025#13,2086#2191,633
2024#11,1228#2191,638
2023#11,1698#2121,745
2022—#2091,780
2021#12,2067#2111,797
2020—#2071,843
2019#13,7996#1872,095
2018#11,4278#1882,132
2017#14,1246#1772,265
2016#10,11310#1662,427
2015#16,4195#1582,602
2014#9,51711#1542,672
2013—#1442,727
2012—#1442,780
2011#8,61413#1323,056
2010#11,2469#1323,065
2009#17,2945#1163,564
2008#11,5999#1133,744
2007#10,81810#1233,423
2006#8,23714#1233,455
2005#8,33013#1233,275
2004#8,71612#1243,237
2003#9,04811#1243,245
2002#7,04515#1223,191
2001#6,95615#1263,167
2000#6,80815#1123,380
1999#5,89617#1153,185
1998#6,36015#1173,172
1997#5,22819#1262,989
1996#4,45323#1243,004
1995#4,09925#1203,100
1994#4,23824#1083,368
1993#3,68129#1013,557
1992#4,23624#1003,667
1991#2,93539#1003,762
1990#3,02237#944,000
1989#4,02024#883,939
1988#2,53942#853,940
1987#2,78035#754,138
1986#2,14849#724,507
1985#2,54538#674,623
1984#2,22744#664,524
1983#2,04749#674,345
1982#2,45139#694,446
1981#2,15847#654,540
1980#2,15447#674,564
1979#2,34340#714,216
1978#2,15943#743,810
1977#2,02647#733,824
1976#2,38734#723,722
1975#2,09741#743,729
1974#1,73352#753,491
1973#2,62927#733,570
1972#1,94642#783,528
1971#1,85747#863,499
1970#1,95243#823,839
1969#1,30375#803,681
1968#1,33469#803,683
1967#1,25573#903,476
1966#1,017103#1023,232
1965#1,88737#1142,860
1964#2,67522#1103,135
1963#2,86419#1103,237
1962#2,74120#1133,298
1961#2,41125#1103,518
1960#2,51223#1103,712
1959#3,10415#1163,458
1958#2,02530#1203,224
1957#2,16826#1043,604
1956#2,32123#1063,436
1955#2,22224#1212,806
1954#1,90930#1272,596
1953#2,23622#1342,302
1952#1,97826#1322,228
1951#2,81014#1292,162
1950#1,79428#1302,043
1949#2,85013#1381,987
1948#1,90125#1372,026
1947#1,75230#1332,144
1946#1,80825#1271,999
1945#1,69924#1341,597
1944#1,80822#1251,714
1943#1,55629#1281,745
1942#1,66825#1341,595
1941#2,01817#1421,339
1940#1,59124#1401,278
1939#1,54424#1351,295
1938#1,75220#1341,262
1937#1,49325#1391,116
1936#1,26732#1461,060
1935#1,33130#157919
1934#1,60322#172815
1933#2,27513#185666
1932#2,23514#206624
1931#2,75010#242477
1930#2,11016#263455
1929#2,30114#272420
1928#2,76811#278415
1927#2,85911#284392
1926#3,04610#291379
1925#2,28316#294379
1924#2,66113#295377
1923#2,73212#303348
1922#2,78012#294368
1921#2,76212#281395
1920—#308346
1919#3,2199#280358
1918#3,2449#294348
1917#4,0836#300308
1916#3,5527#309282
1915#3,7956#311272
1914—#321200
1913—#307167
1912#2,9795#332129
1911—#35759
1910—#33255
1909—#32550
1908—#33545
1907—#28654
1906—#28649
1905—#28448
1904—#29443
1903—#34032
1902—#31238
1901—#30234
1900—#37535
1899—#28637
1898—#25548
1897—#33131
1896—#30637
1895—#29537
1894—#26144
1893—#23952
1892—#29239
1891—#29731
1890—#28237
1889—#27437
1888—#25248
1887—#22748
1886—#24349
1885—#21356
1884—#22156
1883—#21251
1882—#22254
1881—#19757
1880—#26241
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Joel was already there! It came in at #262, and was given to 41 baby boys.


Quietest stretch: 1889–1892, when fewer than 40 boys a year got the name.

Where Joel is popular in 1926

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 boys named Joel, so not publishedAKMaine: fewer than 5 boys named Joel, so not publishedMEVermont: fewer than 5 boys named Joel, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 boys named Joel, so not publishedNHWashington: fewer than 5 boys named Joel, so not publishedWAIdaho: #140 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 595 boysIDMontana: fewer than 5 boys named Joel, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Joel, so not publishedNDMinnesota: #225 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 2,150 boysMNIllinois: #292 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 3,862 boysILWisconsin: fewer than 5 boys named Joel, so not publishedWIMichigan: #287 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 3,721 boysMINew York: #224 for boys · 35 births · 1 in 2,751 boysNYMassachusetts: fewer than 5 boys named Joel, so not publishedMARhode Island: fewer than 5 boys named Joel, so not publishedRIOregon: fewer than 5 boys named Joel, so not publishedORNevada: fewer than 5 boys named Joel, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 boys named Joel, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Joel, so not publishedSDIowa: fewer than 5 boys named Joel, so not publishedIAIndiana: #261 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 3,231 boysINOhio: #373 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 6,581 boysOHPennsylvania: #338 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 6,712 boysPANew Jersey: #227 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 3,341 boysNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 boys named Joel, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #409 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 5,254 boysCAUtah: fewer than 5 boys named Joel, so not publishedUTColorado: #214 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 1,612 boysCONebraska: fewer than 5 boys named Joel, so not publishedNEMissouri: fewer than 5 boys named Joel, so not publishedMOKentucky: #441 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 5,110 boysKYWest Virginia: fewer than 5 boys named Joel, so not publishedWVVirginia: #291 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 2,769 boysVAMaryland: #167 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 1,636 boysMDDelaware: fewer than 5 boys named Joel, so not publishedDEArizona: fewer than 5 boys named Joel, so not publishedAZNew Mexico: fewer than 5 boys named Joel, so not publishedNMKansas: fewer than 5 boys named Joel, so not publishedKSArkansas: #320 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 2,616 boysARTennessee: #186 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 1,498 boysTNNorth Carolina: #231 for boys · 20 births · 1 in 1,699 boysNCSouth Carolina: #263 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 2,291 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 boys named Joel, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #231 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 1,618 boysOKLouisiana: #322 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 2,486 boysLAMississippi: #249 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 2,027 boysMSAlabama: #164 for boys · 25 births · 1 in 1,101 boysALGeorgia: #142 for boys · 32 births · 1 in 845 boysGAHawaii: fewer than 5 boys named Joel, so not publishedHITexas: #224 for boys · 43 births · 1 in 1,278 boysTXFlorida: #287 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 2,544 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. Idaho#140 · 1 in 595
  2. Georgia#142 · 1 in 845
  3. Alabama#164 · 1 in 1,101
  4. Maryland#167 · 1 in 1,636
  5. Tennessee#186 · 1 in 1,498

Best ever in a state: #36 in South Dakota, 1969.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Idaho#14061 in 595
Georgia#142321 in 845
Alabama#164251 in 1,101
Maryland#16781 in 1,636
Tennessee#186161 in 1,498
Colorado#21451 in 1,612
New York#224351 in 2,751
Texas#224431 in 1,278
Minnesota#225101 in 2,150
New Jersey#22791 in 3,341
North Carolina#231201 in 1,699
Oklahoma#231141 in 1,618
Mississippi#249101 in 2,027
Indiana#26181 in 3,231
South Carolina#26381 in 2,291
Florida#28761 in 2,544
Michigan#287111 in 3,721
Virginia#29181 in 2,769
Illinois#292151 in 3,862
Arkansas#32071 in 2,616
Louisiana#32281 in 2,486
Pennsylvania#338131 in 6,712
Ohio#37381 in 6,581
California#40971 in 5,254
Kentucky#44151 in 5,110
Alaska———
Arizona———
Connecticut———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Hawaii———
Iowa———
Kansas———
Maine———
Massachusetts———
Missouri———
Montana———
Nebraska———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
New Mexico———
North Dakota———
Oregon———
Rhode Island———
South Dakota———
Utah———
Vermont———
Washington———
West Virginia———
Wisconsin———
Wyoming———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the boys born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Joel
Momentum · boys
Holding steady
  • Held #219 since 2024
  • 12 spots since 2020 (#207 → #219)
  • 61 spots since 2015 (#158 → #219)
  • Biggest jump: 76 spots in 1898 (#331 → #255)
  • Biggest drop: 89 spots in 1900 (#286 → #375)
Rise & fade · boys
101 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1981 at #65 (4,540 births)
  • Births halved by 2017, 36 yrs later
Top of the charts · boys
Top 100 for 26 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: 26 yrs · run 1967–1992
  • Top 1,000: 146 yrs · run 1880–2025
Share of babies · boys
1 in 391
  • Highest: 1 in 391 boys born in 1980 were named Joel (0.26%)
  • Latest: 1 in 1,046 boys born in 2025 (0.10%)
  • Its best rank, #65 in 1981, was only 1 in 395 (0.25%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
Era · boys
The 1980s
  • 15.6% of all boys named Joel (43,566) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s497#197 (1881)#232
1890s393#239 (1893)#284
1900s428#284 (1905)#314
1910s2,178#280 (1919)#314
1920s3,819#272 (1929)#290
1930s8,689#134 (1938)#178
1940s17,424#125 (1944)#134
1950s27,859#104 (1957)#122
1960s33,832#80 (1968)#102
1970s37,228#71 (1979)#76
1980s43,566#65 (1981)#72
1990s33,804#94 (1990)#111
2000s33,681#112 (2000)#121
2010s25,821#132 (2010)#158
2020s10,436#207 (2020)#213

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 boys in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Joel in 1926

girls
#3,046
10 births · 1 in 118,540 girls
boys
#291
379 births · 1 in 2,930 boys

Top girls' names in 1926

  1. #1Mary67,832
  2. #2Dorothy36,618
  3. #3Betty32,964
  4. #4Helen26,886
  5. #5Margaret23,072
  6. #6Ruth20,225
  7. #7Doris16,295
  8. #8Virginia16,161
  9. #9Mildred13,547
  10. #10Frances13,355
  11. #3,046Joel10

Top boys' names in 1926

  1. #1Robert61,130
  2. #2John56,108
  3. #3James53,196
  4. #4William51,922
  5. #5Charles29,521
  6. #6George25,910
  7. #7Richard25,143
  8. #8Joseph23,756
  9. #9Donald20,912
  10. #10Edward19,375
  11. #291Joel379
More about 1926

girls

1,185,401 girls got a published name in 1926; 1 in 118,540 of them was named Joel, which outranked 45.8% of the 5,622 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 22.5% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Joel
  1. #2,872Zenaida11
  2. #2,872Zoa11
  3. #2,872Zuma11
  4. #3,046Joel10
  5. #3,046Adelaida10
  6. #3,046Adelma10
  7. #3,046Adena10
  8. #3,269Abelina9
  9. #3,269Adabelle9
  10. #3,269Adrianna9

Tied with 222 names at #3,046; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1925
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,047Janell#1,795 → #748
  2. ↑ 389Madalyn#1,225 → #836
  3. ↑ 382Evangelina#1,324 → #942
  4. ↑ 379Carla#1,252 → #873
  5. ↑ 351Vilma#1,020 → #669
Fallers
  1. ↓ 597Albertine#944 → #1,541
  2. ↓ 462Cleora#895 → #1,357
  3. ↓ 461Lorrayne#988 → #1,449
  4. ↓ 453Hermina#996 → #1,449
  5. ↓ 307Ethelene#913 → #1,220

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,110,505 boys got a published name in 1926; 1 in 2,930 of them was named Joel, which outranked 94.0% of the 4,837 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.0% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Joel
  1. #288Charley398
  2. #289Conrad396
  3. #290Jasper389
  4. #291Joel379
  5. #292Edmond376
  6. #293Millard375
  7. #294Cornelius370
Biggest movers since 1925
Risers
  1. ↑ 477Jonnie#1,332 → #855
  2. ↑ 433Jorge#1,425 → #992
  3. ↑ 410Faustino#1,390 → #980
  4. ↑ 404Adelbert#1,246 → #842
  5. ↑ 381Cameron#1,164 → #783
Fallers
  1. ↓ 531Okey#984 → #1,515
  2. ↓ 459Florentino#973 → #1,432
  3. ↓ 407Rexford#924 → #1,331
  4. ↓ 380Marshal#973 → #1,353
  5. ↓ 378Coolidge#746 → #1,124

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1926 →