Rising since 2013, #5,410 for girls today.
Popularity of Yaeli since 2002
Babies named Yaeli per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 2000s | 84 |
| 2010s | 73 |
| 2020s | 103 |
Meaning & origin
Yaeli is a modern Hebrew name that first appeared in U.S. records in 2002. As of 2025, it ranks 5,410 nationally, with 1 in 69,881 newborns receiving the name. Its trajectory has been steadily rising since 2013, and it reached its peak popularity in 2025. The name is a diminutive of Yael, a biblical figure known for her courage. Yaeli has not appeared in any state-level top rankings, suggesting its use is scattered across the country. Its soft, melodic sound and Hebrew heritage give it appeal among parents seeking a distinctive yet meaningful name. The rising trend may reflect broader interest in biblical and Israeli names.
Yaeli is derived from the Hebrew name Yael, which appears in the Bible as the woman who killed Sisera. Yael means 'mountain goat' or 'ibex'. The suffix -i is a common Hebrew diminutive or gentilic ending, giving Yaeli the sense of 'my Yael' or 'little Yael'. The name has been used in Israel and among Jewish communities, and has gained occasional use in the United States since the early 2000s.
“Yaeli” around the world
Where Yaeli 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: Yael, Yali
Variants: Yael
Sibling names for Yaeli
Names that share Yaeli's style, for a brother or sister.
