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Home › Baby Names Directory › Jezebel

Jezebel

♀ Girl

Pronounced JEZ-uh-bel /ˈdʒɛz.ə.bɛl/High

Meaning: Jezebel renders Hebrew Izevel, the name of a Phoenician princess who married King Ahab of Israel (1-2 Kings). The original Phoenician name likely honored the god Baal; the Hebrew form is often read as 'where is the prince?' or 'not exalted'. In English the name has also long been used as a byword for a wicked or sexually immoral woman. Both senses are real, and families should know both.Low

In 30 seconds: A Phoenician queen's name from Scripture — and, in English, a byword for a wicked woman. Both senses are real (said 'JEZ-uh-bel').
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Origin MediumHebrew, Phoenician
MeaningJezebel renders Hebrew Izevel, the name of a Phoenician princess who married King Ahab of Israel (1-2 Kings). The original Phoenician name likely honored the god Baal; the Hebrew form is often read as 'where is the prince?' or 'not exalted'. In English the name has also long been used as a byword for a wicked or sexually immoral woman. Both senses are real, and families should know both.
U.S. rank (2024)#14200 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2007
Total births (all-time)≈ 778

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200719802024

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

Jezebel comes from Hebrew Izevel, the name of the Phoenician princess who married Ahab, king of Israel, in 1 and 2 Kings. The original Phoenician name most likely honored the god Baal; Hebrew scribes appear to have reshaped it, and it is variously read as 'where is the prince?' or 'not exalted'. The biblical account portrays her as a persecutor of prophets, and from it English derived the common noun jezebel, meaning a wicked or sexually immoral woman. Both the royal name and the pejorative sense are genuine parts of the record, and we set them out neutrally (said 'JEZ-uh-bel').

It appears only rarely for girls in the U.S. Rare, dramatic, and heavily freighted.

Did you know? Jezebel was a real Phoenician princess who became queen of Israel; the Books of Kings cast her as an enemy of the prophet Elijah. From that story English took the word 'jezebel' for a wicked or immoral woman. We state both plainly so families can choose with open eyes (said 'JEZ-uh-bel').
Overall data confidence 55%
References — Jezebel — Hebrew Izevel; Phoenician queen in 1-2 Kings; English pejorative sense documented

Variations

JezabelIsabelIzevel

Nicknames

JezBelBelle

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Jezebel…

Isabel— a name long linked to Jezebel by form
Delilah— a like biblical name with a complicated story
Salome— another dramatic biblical name
Lilith— a like bold, myth-freighted pick

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Jezebel mean?

Jezebel comes from Hebrew Izevel, the Phoenician queen in 1-2 Kings; the name likely honored the god Baal, and is variously read as 'where is the prince?' or 'not exalted'.

How do you pronounce Jezebel?

It's said JEZ-uh-bel /ˈdʒɛz.ə.bɛl/ — three syllables, stress on the first.

Is Jezebel a boy or girl name?

Jezebel is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Jezebel?

Jezebel is a rare name for girls in the U.S.

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