Yael
Yael is a girl's name of Hebrew origin.
Meaning
Mountain goat or ibex.
Origin and history
Yael is a traditional Hebrew name derived from a word for a wild mountain goat, specifically the ibex. In the Hebrew Bible, Jael (Yael) is celebrated as a heroic female figure. While long established in Jewish communities worldwide, it has seen steady, modern appreciation in the United States.
Popularity in the United States
4,501 babies in the United States have been named Yael since 1880. It ranks #2609 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1304.
States where it is most popular
- NY (49.3 %)
- CA (20.5 %)
- NJ (8.8 %)
- FL (8.3 %)
- MD (4.2 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 0 |
| 1930-1940 | 0 |
| 1940-1950 | 0 |
| 1950-1960 | 18 |
| 1960-1970 | 154 |
| 1970-1980 | 359 |
| 1980-1990 | 522 |
| 1990-2000 | 605 |
| 2000-2010 | 884 |
| 2010-2019 | 1,117 |
| 2020-2029 | 842 |
Famous people named Yael
- Yael Grobglas: Actress
- Yael Naim: Singer, Songwriter
Fun facts
- In the Old Testament Book of Judges, Yael is honored as a courageous figure who delivered Israel from an enemy general.
- While commonly spelled Yael, the Anglicized biblical spelling Jael is also used in English-speaking regions.