Johnel is of American origin, derived from the Hebrew name "John," which means "God is gracious." It was created as an alternate spelling of the classic name and gained popularity in the United States during the mid-20th century. The name Johnel has been consistently used throughout the years, with a slight increase in usage in recent decades.
"The name Johnel experienced fluctuations in popularity over the decades. It had its peak years between 1976 and 1979, with seven births each year. However, it has become less common since the late 1980s, with an average of five births per year from 1992 onwards."