Jael
Girl name · #1390 in 2025 · Uniqueness 58/100
Jael ranks #1390 among American girls' names as of 2025, with 157 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #1501, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 11,465 girls born in 2025 was named Jael.
The 68-year story
Jael first appears in the Social Security records in 1957, when 14 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2012, when 206 girls were named Jael — good for #1196 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Jael per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Jael against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Jael in class?
Jael scores 58 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Jael is most common
Geography matters for names, and Jael is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Jaels were TX (19), FL (17), CA (10), GA (10), MA (9). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Jael
Statistically, parents drawn to Jael tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Yael, Lael, Israel, Izel, and Jiya.
YaelLaelIsraelIzelJiyaIsobelRochelJayde
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Jael | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 157 | #1388 |
| 2024 | 149 | #1466 |
| 2023 | 134 | #1578 |
| 2022 | 143 | #1515 |
| 2021 | 131 | #1600 |
| 2020 | 127 | #1632 |
| 2019 | 154 | #1441 |
| 2018 | 173 | #1313 |
| 2017 | 147 | #1505 |
| 2016 | 145 | #1545 |
| 2015 | 152 | #1501 |
| 2014 | 159 | #1427 |
| 2013 | 177 | #1321 |
| 2012 | 206 | #1196 |
| 2011 | 156 | #1446 |
| 2010 | 161 | #1420 |
| 2009 | 131 | #1695 |
| 2008 | 167 | #1421 |
| 2007 | 175 | #1381 |
| 2006 | 105 | #1918 |
| 2005 | 87 | #2122 |
| 2004 | 84 | #2135 |
| 2003 | 100 | #1845 |
| 2002 | 94 | #1887 |
| 2001 | 76 | #2151 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Jael a popular girl name?
Jael ranked #1390 among girls in 2025 with 157 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1501.
When was the name Jael most popular?
Jael peaked in 2012, when 206 American girls received the name (ranked #1196 that year). Since 2012 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Jael?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 11,465 newborn American girls was named Jael. It scores 58/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.