Yael - A very unique male name
Yael at a glance
Yael is ranked #839 among boy baby names in 2025, with 244 births in 2025. It peaked in 2023 at #787 and first appeared on the charts in 1994.
- Rank in 2025
- #839
- Births in 2025
- 244
- Peak year
- 2023 (#787)
- First appeared
- 1994
- Trend
- #1040 in 2020 → #839 in 2025 (Rising)
- Popularity
- 1 in 6,009 boys
- Visitor rating
- 5.0/5 (5 recent votes)
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration · Data through 2025 · Updated 2026
With that position 1 in 6,009 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Yael peaked in popularity 3 years ago in 2023 on position 787.
Famous with this name
Yael Grobglas
Yael Stone
Yael Yurman
How would you rate Yael, 1-5?
Yael is currently topping the charts in...
Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Yael is currently topping the baby name charts in Massachusetts at position #408 - and is the least popular in Florida at position #1,252.Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Yael is where you live.
Comment and discuss
Yael origin and meaning
Hebrew
From Hebrew ya'el, 'ibex, mountain goat'
In the Bible Yael (in English, Jael) is a woman — the heroine who kills Sisera in the Book of Judges — and in Israel Yael remains overwhelmingly a girl's name. Its appearance as a US boy's name dates only from 1994 and is a modern, mainly American crossover, helped by the name's short, strong sound. It is rising steadily for boys.
Attested etymology
Yael is a 4 letter name with 2 syllables.
To see famous people named Yael, pop culture references for the name Yael and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.Similar to Yael
We've found the following names that sound similar to Yael, sorted by popularity.
Yoel / Yahel / Yale / Yul /Name statistics
Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better
understanding of how popular or unique this name is.
With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually
differ a lot from state to state.
Chart position per year (visualized)
Chart position per state (visualized)
Chart position per year (table view)
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 839 |
| 2024 | 800 |
| 2023 | 787 |
| 2022 | 1049 |
| 2021 | 1003 |
| 2020 | 1040 |
| 2019 | 949 |
| 2018 | 937 |
| 2017 | 1025 |
| 2016 | 1028 |
| 2015 | 1110 |
| 2014 | 968 |
| 2013 | 902 |
| 2012 | 872 |
| 2011 | 1044 |
| 2010 | 903 |
| 2009 | 908 |
| 2008 | 895 |
| 2007 | 913 |
| 2006 | 965 |
| 2005 | 993 |
| 2004 | 1028 |
| 2003 | 1205 |
| 2002 | 1508 |
| 2001 | 2523 |
| 2000 | 2480 |
| 1999 | 2076 |
| 1998 | 2058 |
| 1997 | 2688 |
| 1996 | 3567 |
| 1994 | 3647 |
Chart position per state (table view)
| State | Rank |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 408 |
| Arizona | 431 |
| North Carolina | 537 |
| New Jersey | 541 |
| Texas | 610 |
| Maryland | 698 |
| California | 718 |
| New York | 744 |
| Illinois | 747 |
| Georgia | 791 |
| Alabama | 876 |
| Wisconsin | 883 |
| Tennessee | 921 |
| Virginia | 969 |
| Pennsylvania | 1221 |
| Florida | 1252 |
Even more about Yael
These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.
Is Yael a common or unique name?
By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.What is the number of syllables for the name Yael?
2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.Pronunciation
yah-EL · /jɑˈɛl/
Stress and vowel split between yah-EL, YAH-el and yah-ALE
Around the world
- Yael (Hebrew) — Used as-is in Hebrew; traditionally a female name in Israel
Spellings and nicknames
- Jael — The traditional English biblical spelling — a separate name in modern use
Famous bearers
None yet — the name first appears in the data in 1994, and its oldest bearers are still young.
Style
BiblicalInternational
Why parents choose it
Parents choosing Yael for a son tend to want a short biblical name with an international feel that sits apart from the usual Noah-and-Liam set.
Worth knowing
- Most people who know the name know it as a girl's name, from the Bible and from Israel
- Pronunciation is not settled in English
