Declining since 2019, #10,107 for girls today.
Popularity of Peniel since 1997
Babies named Peniel per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0 | 5 |
| 2000s | 21 | 38 |
| 2010s | 89 | 85 |
| 2020s | 65 | 35 |
Meaning & origin
Peniel is a deeply evocative name drawn straight from the biblical account of Jacob wrestling with God at Peniel, meaning 'face of God.' It first appeared on U.S. birth records in 2003, and by 2025 it ranked 10107, with a 1-in-178585 incidence. Its peak year of usage was 2020, and it has been falling in popularity since 2019, suggesting a small but devoted group of parents seeking rare, spiritually meaningful names. While none of the top states recorded notable usage, Peniel carries a unique resonance. For families drawn to underused biblical names like Shiloh or Zion, Peniel offers a profound connection to a pivotal moment in scripture.
Peniel is a Hebrew name derived from the biblical place name Penuel (פְּנוּאֵל), meaning 'face of God.' In the Book of Genesis, Jacob wrestles with an angel at Peniel and names the place 'Peniel,' saying, 'For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.' As a personal name, Peniel is uncommon but appears in Jewish and Christian communities, often associated with spiritual encounter or divine vision.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Pen, Niel
Variants: Penuel
Sibling names for Peniel
Names that share Peniel's style, for a brother or sister.
