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How Many People Are Named Joel?
Estimated people named Joel living in the U.S. today
237,527
Gender distribution
99% male · 1% female in SSA records.
Name scorecard
- Total U.S. births recorded (1880–2024): 280,584
- Peak year: 1985 (4,661 births)
- Estimated living today: 237,527
Joel by age group — who carries the name today?
Joel popularity over time (1880–2024)
Estimated living bearers by birth decade
About the name Joel
Joel has been recorded by the Social Security Administration since the 19th century dataset began. In total, 280,584 babies were given the name in the United States between 1880 and 2024. After adjusting each birth cohort for survival to today, an estimated 237,527 bearers are still living — roughly 1 in 1,439 Americans. The name's strongest decade shapes how old most Joels you meet will be, which the age-group breakdown above shows directly. All figures are statistical estimates from public records; see our methodology for sources, the survival model, and the limits of the data (names given to fewer than five babies in a year are not published by the SSA).
Frequently asked questions
How many people are named Joel in the US?
An estimated 237,527 people named Joel are living in the United States today, based on SSA birth records from 1880 to 2024 adjusted for survival. That makes Joel uncommon — about 1 in 1,439 Americans.
Is Joel a boy or girl name?
In SSA records, Joel is 99% male and 1% female, so it is predominantly a male name.
When was Joel most popular?
Joel peaked in 1985, when 4,661 babies were given the name. Its current trend is declining compared with the previous decade.
How rare is the name Joel?
Joel ranks #218 of 104,819 first names recorded by the SSA, with a rarity score of 37 out of 100 (higher means rarer).