Yael
Boy name · #817 in 2025 · Uniqueness 46/100
In 2025, 304 baby boys were named Yael, placing it at #817 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1092, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 5,921 boys born in 2025 was named Yael.
The 41-year story
Yael first appears in the Social Security records in 1984, when 5 boys received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2023, with 329 babies and a rank of #775. Names at their peak can keep climbing — or be one trend cycle from the long slide that eventually hits most popular names. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Yael per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Yael against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Yael in class?
Yael scores 46 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Yael is most common
Geography matters for names, and Yael is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Yaels were TX (51), CA (38), NY (20), NC (19), AZ (18). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Yael
Statistically, parents drawn to Yael tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Kael, Isael, Yadiel, Azael, and Jael.
KaelIsaelYadielAzaelJaelYisraelMikaelAsael
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Yael | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 304 | #817 |
| 2024 | 320 | #785 |
| 2023 | 329 | #775 |
| 2022 | 225 | #993 |
| 2021 | 211 | #1032 |
| 2020 | 206 | #1011 |
| 2019 | 222 | #961 |
| 2018 | 225 | #933 |
| 2017 | 197 | #1023 |
| 2016 | 182 | #1080 |
| 2015 | 178 | #1092 |
| 2014 | 235 | #913 |
| 2013 | 243 | #871 |
| 2012 | 238 | #880 |
| 2011 | 179 | #1054 |
| 2010 | 219 | #920 |
| 2009 | 223 | #926 |
| 2008 | 226 | #912 |
| 2007 | 212 | #934 |
| 2006 | 180 | #1021 |
| 2005 | 159 | #1046 |
| 2004 | 139 | #1132 |
| 2003 | 111 | #1277 |
| 2002 | 64 | #1792 |
| 2001 | 32 | #2864 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Yael a popular boy name?
Yael ranked #817 among boys in 2025 with 304 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1092.
When was the name Yael most popular?
Yael peaked in 2023, when 329 American boys received the name (ranked #775 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Yael?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 5,921 newborn American boys was named Yael. It scores 46/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.