Declining since 2018, #1,008 for girls today.
Popularity of Joelle since 1918
Babies named Joelle per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 5 |
| 1920s | 0 |
| 1930s | 50 |
| 1940s | 174 |
| 1950s | 261 |
| 1960s | 1,740 |
| 1970s | 1,878 |
| 1980s | 2,188 |
| 1990s | 2,436 |
| 2000s | 2,438 |
| 2010s | 3,014 |
| 2020s | 1,931 |
Meaning & origin
Joelle first appeared on U.S. records in 1918, but its rise to popularity came much later. The name reached its peak usage in 2017, ranking within the top 1,000 for several years before beginning a gradual decline since 2018. In the most recent decade, the name has maintained moderate use, particularly in states like Oregon, Louisiana, and Indiana. At its current rank of 1,008th, Joelle remains a recognizable but uncommon choice, with about 1 in 6,481 baby girls receiving the name in 2025. The trajectory shows a steady drop in frequency over the past seven years, suggesting the name may continue to move further from the top 1,000. Despite this, Joelle retains a classic French elegance, with the nickname "Jo" offering a friendly, unisex appeal.
Joelle is the feminine form of Joël, the French equivalent of Joel, derived from the Hebrew name Yo'el (יוֹאֵל) meaning 'Yahweh is God.' The name first appears in the Old Testament as a prophet, and the female variant became popular in French-speaking regions before spreading to English-speaking countries in the 20th century.
Where Joelle is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Joelle” around the world
Where Joelle lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Jo, Jelly, Elle
Variants: Joëlle
Sibling names for Joelle
Names that share Joelle's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Joelle
Names whose popularity has moved with Joelle's over the last 50 years.
