Joel is of Hebrew origin and means "Yahweh is God." It was originally used as a prophet's name in the Hebrew Bible, appearing in the Book of Joel. This name gained popularity among Christians due to its biblical associations. The most well-known Joel is likely Joel Osteen, an American pastor and televangelist with a large following worldwide. In literature, Joel Chandler Harris is renowned for his collection of Uncle Remus tales featuring African-American folklore. Today, Joel is considered a classic yet enduring name choice, beloved by parents around the world.
The name Joel reached its peak popularity between 1947 and 1954 with over 20 births per year each of those years. It then started to decline, reaching a low point in the late 1990s and early 2000s with fewer than 15 births per year from 1998 to 2002. Since 2003, the number of births with the name Joel has remained consistently low, typically ranging between 5 to 15 births per year.