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Jael
♂ Boy
Pronounced JAY-el /ˈdʒeɪ.əl/Low
Meaning: Mountain goat; wild goat of the heightsLow
In 30 seconds: Jael is a Hebrew name meaning mountain goat used for both boys and girls. In the Book of Judges, Jael was a brave woman who killed the Canaanite commander Sisera, saving Israel — a name of fierce unexpected heroism.
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Origin LowHebrew
MeaningMountain goat; wild goat of the heights
U.S. rank (2025)#1317 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births147 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2012
Total births (all-time)≈ 3,386
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Jael is a Hebrew name meaning mountain goat or wild goat. In Judges 4-5, Jael was the woman who killed the Canaanite general Sisera.
Jael is used as both masculine and feminine name in Jewish and Christian communities who appreciate Old Testament names.
Did you know? Jael's story in Judges 4-5 is one of the Bible's most dramatic. She lured Sisera into her tent and killed him while he slept — earning a place in the great Song of Deborah as a national heroine.
Overall data confidence 90%
Variations
YaelYaelle
Nicknames
Jay
Famous Bearers
- ★Jael (biblical) (biblical)Heroine in the Book of Judges who killed the Canaanite commander Sisera, praised in the Song of Deborah
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Frequently Asked
What does Jael mean?
Jael means mountain goat or wild goat of the heights in Hebrew.
How do you pronounce Jael?
Jael is pronounced JAY-el with two syllables.
What is the origin of Jael?
Jael comes from Hebrew.
What names are similar to Jael?
Similar names include Yael, Joel, and Ezra.