Joel

Updated: October 20, 2023 by Stephanie Graham

Joel was a popular name from the early Christian church as it referenced the minor prophet of the Old Testament. The name continued in popularity, even becoming a top 100 name for two decades in the 1960s. Though ranked right above the top 200 list now, it is still popular among celebrities and normal families alike.

Meaning and Origin of the name Joel:

Joel is a masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning “Jehovah is God.”

Joel comes from the Hebrew name Yo'el. The first Joel is a minor prophet from the Old Testament who was a mighty man of King David. There is even a book in the Bible named after him. The Puritans popularized this name during the 1500s as a first name for Christian boys.

Symbolism of the name Joel:

Joel has the same meaning as the Hebrew Yo'el. The Hebrew words yo and el, each refer to Jehovah or the Hebrew God, giving the meaning “Jehovah is God” breath.

Nicknames for the name Joel:

Even though Joel is a short name, there are different ways to shorten it even more. There are also nicknames that don't require Joel to be shortened. If you are looking for nicknames for the name Joel, then you'll like the list below.

Jojo
Joe
Jo
El
Joey
Jozy
Jozie
Jozi

Style of the name Joel:

Classical

Gender of the name Joel:

Joel is a name for boys.

Pronunciation of the name Joel:

JOL

Number of syllables in the name Joel:

One

Emotion evoked from the name Joel:

Joel is a wholesome name that feels approachable and kind.

Alternative spellings for the name Joel:

Joael
Joell
Joayl
Joale

Popularity of the name Joel:

The baby name Joel became a top 200 name for boys in 1933. In 1967, the name reached the top 100 list until 1990. Up until 2019, the name was on the top 200 list again though. As of 2020, the name is slightly above at number 207.