Yael
Boy name · #817 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Yael? In official American birth records, Yael has been tracked continuously since 1984, giving it 41 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 304 baby boys were named Yael, placing it at #817 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1092, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 5,921 boys born in 2025 was named Yael.
The 41-year story
Yael first appears in the Social Security records in 1984, when 5 boys received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2023, with 329 babies and a rank of #775. Names at their peak can keep climbing — or be one trend cycle from the long slide that eventually hits most popular names. 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 Yael per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Yael against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Yael in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Yael is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Yael will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Yael is most common
Geography matters for names, and Yael is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Yael is most common in AZ (0.6 per 1,000), MA (0.5 per 1,000), NC (0.4 per 1,000), NJ (0.4 per 1,000), TX (0.3 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.2 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Yael is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Yael
Statistically, parents drawn to Yael tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Kael, Isael, Yadiel, Azael, and Jael.
KaelIsaelYadielAzaelJaelYisraelMikaelAsael
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Yael | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 304 | #817 |
| 2024 | 320 | #785 |
| 2023 | 329 | #775 |
| 2022 | 225 | #993 |
| 2021 | 211 | #1032 |
| 2020 | 206 | #1011 |
| 2019 | 222 | #961 |
| 2018 | 225 | #933 |
| 2017 | 197 | #1023 |
| 2016 | 182 | #1080 |
| 2015 | 178 | #1092 |
| 2014 | 235 | #913 |
| 2013 | 243 | #871 |
| 2012 | 238 | #880 |
| 2011 | 179 | #1054 |
| 2010 | 219 | #920 |
| 2009 | 223 | #926 |
| 2008 | 226 | #912 |
| 2007 | 212 | #934 |
| 2006 | 180 | #1021 |
| 2005 | 159 | #1046 |
| 2004 | 139 | #1132 |
| 2003 | 111 | #1277 |
| 2002 | 64 | #1792 |
| 2001 | 32 | #2864 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Yael?
In official American birth records, the name Yael first appeared in 1984 (over 41 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 41 years.
Is Yael a popular boy name?
Yael ranked #817 among boys in 2025 with 304 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1092.
When was the name Yael most popular?
Yael peaked in 2023, when 329 American boys received the name (ranked #775 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Yael?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 5,921 newborn American boys was named Yael. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.