Jael
How to say it: JAY-uhl · /ˈdʒeɪəl/
Hebrew biblical name meaning 'mountain goat'. In the Bible, Jael was a heroic woman who defeated the Canaanite general Sisera.
Jael was the 1,140th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 304 babies of either sex (Social Security Administration). The 2020s are its busiest decade so far, its births are up about 8% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #1,166 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #1,140 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 (both sexes) | 304 |
| Share of births | 1 in 10,905 |
| Peak decade | 2020s |
| Change over 10 years | +8% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #1,166 |
| In France, 2025 | #2,541 among girls’ names, 25 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Recent decades account for nearly all use of Jael, and the 2020s stand as its peak. A dip is expected over the next few years despite that current high.
What goes with it
Gentle liquid sounds shape Jael, pronounced JAY uhl, alongside a biblical heritage. Judah offers a kindred match.
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Jael is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French, Hebrew, Portuguese, Spanish.
In France: #2,541 for girls in 2025.
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