Yael

♀ Girl

Pronounced yah-EL /jɑ.ˈɛl/Medium

Meaning: From the Hebrew Yael (יָעֵל), meaning 'mountain goat' or 'ibex'. A biblical heroine who slew the enemy commander Sisera.Medium

In 30 seconds: Yael is a Hebrew name meaning 'mountain goat' or 'ibex', borne by a biblical heroine who killed the enemy commander Sisera.

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Origin MediumHebrew, Biblical

MeaningFrom the Hebrew Yael (יָעֵל), meaning 'mountain goat' or 'ibex'. A biblical heroine who slew the enemy commander Sisera.

U.S. rank (2025)#1642 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births127 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2022

Total births (all-time)≈ 4,498

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

From the Hebrew Yael, the name names the sure-footed mountain goat or ibex. Its strength comes partly from its bearer in scripture: the Yael who slew Sisera, the commander of an opposing army. That story of decisive courage colors the name's character.

Compact and forceful, Yael keeps a distinctly Hebrew sound, while spellings such as Jael and Yaël show how it travels into other languages.

Did you know? Yael appears in the Old Testament, which helped preserve it across centuries of Jewish and Christian naming traditions.

Overall data confidence 78%

Behind the Name - Yael — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

YaëlJaelJahelIaelIahel

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Yael Grobglas (1984-)
Israeli actress known for Jane the Virgin
★Yael Naim (1978-)
French-Israeli singer behind the hit 'New Soul'
★Yael Stone (1985-)
Australian actress known for Orange Is the New Black

If you like Yael…

Jael— The form of Yael used in many English Bibles.

Raquel— another Hebrew name

Rochel— a similarly popular pick

Rachel— another biblical pick

Lael— lands in the same popularity range

Explore names like Yael

By themehebrew biblical nature biblical-hebrew-1

By meaningEarth / Nature Leader

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Yael mean?

Yael is usually explained as meaning 'origin uncertain' and is most often linked with Hebrew tradition.

How do you pronounce Yael?

It's commonly said yah-EL /jɑ.ˈɛl/.

Is Yael a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Yael is used as a girl name.

How popular is Yael?

In 2024, Yael ranked #1600 in the U.S. for girls, with 131 births recorded.