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#100rank188019001920194019601980200020201951peak #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 1951

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 boys named Joel, so not publishedAKMaine: #75 for boys · 23 births · 1 in 415 boysMEVermont: fewer than 5 boys named Joel, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 boys named Joel, so not publishedNHWashington: #122 for boys · 35 births · 1 in 802 boysWAIdaho: #123 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 636 boysIDMontana: #141 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 861 boysMTNorth Dakota: #50 for boys · 31 births · 1 in 245 boysNDMinnesota: #68 for boys · 86 births · 1 in 440 boysMNIllinois: #136 for boys · 95 births · 1 in 1,025 boysILWisconsin: #104 for boys · 51 births · 1 in 828 boysWIMichigan: #142 for boys · 78 births · 1 in 1,080 boysMINew York: #85 for boys · 318 births · 1 in 498 boysNYMassachusetts: #90 for boys · 67 births · 1 in 739 boysMARhode Island: #106 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 1,051 boysRIOregon: #174 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 1,228 boysORNevada: fewer than 5 boys named Joel, so not publishedNVWyoming: #126 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 669 boysWYSouth Dakota: #101 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 581 boysSDIowa: #105 for boys · 46 births · 1 in 686 boysIAIndiana: #177 for boys · 31 births · 1 in 1,569 boysINOhio: #144 for boys · 83 births · 1 in 1,178 boysOHPennsylvania: #112 for boys · 121 births · 1 in 951 boysPANew Jersey: #106 for boys · 51 births · 1 in 971 boysNJConnecticut: #86 for boys · 30 births · 1 in 677 boysCTCalifornia: #151 for boys · 123 births · 1 in 1,053 boysCAUtah: #148 for boys · 12 births · 1 in 889 boysUTColorado: #176 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 1,220 boysCONebraska: #147 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 1,101 boysNEMissouri: #184 for boys · 27 births · 1 in 1,639 boysMOKentucky: #198 for boys · 23 births · 1 in 1,597 boysKYWest Virginia: #158 for boys · 21 births · 1 in 1,160 boysWVVirginia: #174 for boys · 33 births · 1 in 1,190 boysVAMaryland: #169 for boys · 18 births · 1 in 1,474 boysMDDelaware: #115 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 731 boysDEArizona: #188 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 1,058 boysAZNew Mexico: #246 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 1,467 boysNMKansas: #192 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 1,427 boysKSArkansas: #146 for boys · 24 births · 1 in 917 boysARTennessee: #126 for boys · 50 births · 1 in 797 boysTNNorth Carolina: #131 for boys · 69 births · 1 in 766 boysNCSouth Carolina: #151 for boys · 35 births · 1 in 838 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: #125 for boys · 18 births · 1 in 770 boysDCOklahoma: #131 for boys · 32 births · 1 in 753 boysOKLouisiana: #244 for boys · 22 births · 1 in 1,691 boysLAMississippi: #172 for boys · 27 births · 1 in 1,082 boysMSAlabama: #117 for boys · 64 births · 1 in 604 boysALGeorgia: #109 for boys · 78 births · 1 in 576 boysGAHawaii: #154 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 687 boysHITexas: #137 for boys · 154 births · 1 in 710 boysTXFlorida: #132 for boys · 46 births · 1 in 721 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. North Dakota#50 · 1 in 245
  2. Minnesota#68 · 1 in 440
  3. Maine#75 · 1 in 415
  4. New York#85 · 1 in 498
  5. Connecticut#86 · 1 in 677

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
North Dakota#50311 in 245
Minnesota#68861 in 440
Maine#75231 in 415
New York#853181 in 498
Connecticut#86301 in 677
Massachusetts#90671 in 739
South Dakota#101141 in 581
Wisconsin#104511 in 828
Iowa#105461 in 686
New Jersey#106511 in 971
Rhode Island#10681 in 1,051
Georgia#109781 in 576
Pennsylvania#1121211 in 951
Delaware#11551 in 731
Alabama#117641 in 604
Washington#122351 in 802
Idaho#123111 in 636
District of Columbia#125181 in 770
Tennessee#126501 in 797
Wyoming#12651 in 669
North Carolina#131691 in 766
Oklahoma#131321 in 753
Florida#132461 in 721
Illinois#136951 in 1,025
Texas#1371541 in 710
Montana#14181 in 861
Michigan#142781 in 1,080
Ohio#144831 in 1,178
Arkansas#146241 in 917
Nebraska#147141 in 1,101
Utah#148121 in 889
California#1511231 in 1,053
South Carolina#151351 in 838
Hawaii#15491 in 687
West Virginia#158211 in 1,160
Maryland#169181 in 1,474
Mississippi#172271 in 1,082
Oregon#174141 in 1,228
Virginia#174331 in 1,190
Colorado#176141 in 1,220
Indiana#177311 in 1,569
Missouri#184271 in 1,639
Arizona#188101 in 1,058
Kansas#192151 in 1,427
Kentucky#198231 in 1,597
Louisiana#244221 in 1,691
New Mexico#24671 in 1,467
Alaska———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
Vermont———

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 1951

girls
#2,810
14 births · 1 in 128,633 girls
boys
#129
2,162 births · 1 in 871 boys

Top girls' names in 1951

  1. #1Linda73,982
  2. #2Mary65,721
  3. #3Patricia56,446
  4. #4Deborah42,053
  5. #5Barbara40,617
  6. #6Susan40,228
  7. #7Nancy30,346
  8. #8Karen27,998
  9. #9Sandra27,665
  10. #10Kathleen26,716
  11. #2,810Joel14

Top boys' names in 1951

  1. #1James87,256
  2. #2Robert86,353
  3. #3John81,569
  4. #4Michael72,807
  5. #5David64,788
  6. #6William62,781
  7. #7Richard54,541
  8. #8Thomas48,275
  9. #9Charles39,406
  10. #10Gary38,160
  11. #129Joel2,162
More about 1951

girls

1,800,859 girls got a published name in 1951; 1 in 128,633 of them was named Joel, which outranked 54.8% of the 6,213 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 24.0% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Joel
  1. #2,694Voncille15
  2. #2,694Walda15
  3. #2,694Zaida15
  4. #2,810Joel14
  5. #2,810Adina14
  6. #2,810Alyse14
  7. #2,810Ammie14
  8. #2,937Adena13
  9. #2,937Ailene13
  10. #2,937Allean13

Tied with 126 names at #2,810; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1950
Risers
  1. ↑ 345Rhona#1,333 → #988
  2. ↑ 307Bobbi#1,153 → #846
  3. ↑ 296Ricki#1,090 → #794
  4. ↑ 295Mindy#771 → #476
  5. ↑ 288Sharleen#1,053 → #765
Fallers
  1. ↓ 395Sharman#668 → #1,063
  2. ↓ 343Manuela#773 → #1,116
  3. ↓ 294Allie#945 → #1,239
  4. ↓ 253Merrie#937 → #1,190
  5. ↓ 252Olive#891 → #1,143

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

boys

1,882,837 boys got a published name in 1951; 1 in 871 of them was named Joel, which outranked 97.0% of the 4,253 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.8% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Joel
  1. #126Gene2,231
  2. #127Glen2,220
  3. #128Mike2,198
  4. #129Joel2,162
  5. #130Duane2,146
  6. #131Vernon2,104
  7. #132Clyde2,054
Biggest movers since 1950
Risers
  1. ↑ 428Kimberly#1,139 → #711
  2. ↑ 372Cole#1,364 → #992
  3. ↑ 357Wayland#1,272 → #915
  4. ↑ 354Ricki#1,139 → #785
  5. ↑ 346Lou#1,289 → #943
Fallers
  1. ↓ 944Jory#960 → #1,904
  2. ↓ 502Samual#960 → #1,462
  3. ↓ 426Carlyle#918 → #1,344
  4. ↓ 319Shaun#899 → #1,218
  5. ↓ 318Tex#977 → #1,295

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

See the top 100 for 1951 →