Yael Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Yael is a Hebrew name meaning 'mountain goat,' symbolizing strength and agility. It has evolved through various forms but retains its original essence. The name is biblically significant due to the character Yael in the Book of Judges. Its usage has become more popular in recent decades, especially in Jewish communities, and it is associated with positive traits. Notable figures with the name include Yael Naïm and Yael Stone.
The name Yael is most popular in New York, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation Alpha generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Yael has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, too falling for female in Northeast, too falling for male in South, stalled for female in South, falling for male in West, too falling for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Yael' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 8362nd out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1213th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 938th out of 23106 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 6387th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2442nd out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 2187th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 2106th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1716th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Yael' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Yael"
Pronunciation
/jɑːˈɛl/
Origin
Hebrew
Etymology
The name Yael comes from the Hebrew word for 'mountain goat.' It is a feminine name that is associated with strength and agility.
Meaning
mountain goat
Language Evolution
Yael, Yail, Yael
Biblical Background
Yael is a significant figure in the Bible, known for her role in the Book of Judges where she killed Sisera, a commander of the Canaanite army.
Historical Usage
The name has been used in Jewish communities for centuries and gained wider recognition in the modern era, particularly in the 20th century.
Variants & Derivatives
Yaelet, Yaela, Yaeli
Modern Popularity & Image
Yael is viewed positively, often associated with strong female characteristics and is popular in Israel and among Jewish communities worldwide.
Famous People
Yael Naïm, a French-Israeli singer-songwriter., Yael Stone, an Australian actress known for her role in 'Orange Is the New Black.'
Explore More Yael Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Yael"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Yael"
"Yael" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 8362nd of 16616 | 52 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 1213th of 24088 | 2,078 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 938th of 23106 | 2,769 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 6387th of 12526 | 64 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 2442nd of 19264 | 512 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 2187th of 27321 | 884 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 2106th of 35406 | 1,412 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 1716th of 30306 | 1,499 |
Regional Popularity of "Yael" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - |
53.79% 3398th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
27.91% 1279th/4582 |
30.23% 1561st/5164 |
16.52% 1208th/7313 |
10.85% 810th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
36.42% 1451st/3984 |
22.87% 1026th/4487 |
14.51% 990th/6822 |
11.19% 702nd/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Yael" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- |
80.45% 1955th/2430 |
- | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- |
32.79% 1142nd/3483 |
- |
56.65% 2291st/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
77.96% 2873rd/3685 |
22.82% 1021st/4475 |
74.72% 3881st/5194 |
30.88% 1951st/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
64.14% 2939th/4582 |
17.14% 885th/5164 |
36.03% 2635th/7313 |
27.75% 2071st/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
76.61% 3052nd/3984 |
17.21% 772nd/4487 |
29.05% 1982nd/6822 |
27.92% 1752nd/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Yael"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Yael" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.