UK boy's name
Jamel
Masculine Arabic name meaning "beautiful, perfect, or handsome".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Jamel is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Jamel popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4001, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 19 births.
This profile covers 200 England and Wales registrations across 24 recorded years from 1996 to 2022. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 21% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 198 living people in the UK are called Jamel. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2023 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Jamel ranked #4001 for boys in England and Wales in 2022, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1997, when 19 boys were registered as Jamel.
- • About 198 living people in the UK are estimated to have Jamel as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4001
2022
Births in 2022
4
Latest year
Peak year
1997
19 births
Estimated living
198
2026
Meaning
What does Jamel mean?
The name Jamel is of Arabic origin and has its roots in the ancient Semitic languages. It is believed to be derived from the Arabic word "jamal," which means "beauty" or "camel." The name can also be traced back to the Hebrew name "Gamliel," which means "reward of God."
In the early days of Islam, the name Jamel was commonly used among Arab populations, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa. It was a popular choice for boys, reflecting the cultural values of beauty, grace, and strength associated with camels in the desert regions.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Jamel can be found in the works of renowned Arab scholars and historians from the 8th and 9th centuries. For example, the famous Muslim historian Ibn Khaldun mentioned a scholar named Jamel al-Din al-Idrisi in his writings.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Jamel. Among them was Jamel al-Din al-Afghani (1838-1897), an Islamic philosopher and political activist who played a significant role in the late 19th century pan-Islamic movement. Another prominent figure was Jamel Eddine Al-Qaisi (1917-1976), a Syrian poet and writer known for his contributions to modern Arabic literature.
In the realm of sports, Jamel Debbouze (born 1975) is a French actor, comedian, and filmmaker of Moroccan descent who has gained international recognition for his work in both French and Hollywood productions.
The name Jamel has also been associated with individuals from different cultural backgrounds. For instance, Jamel Shabazz (born 1960) is an American photographer renowned for his captivating portraits that document the hip-hop culture and urban life in New York City during the 1980s and 1990s.
Another notable figure is Jamel Herring (born 1985), an American professional boxer who held the WBO junior lightweight title from 2019 to 2022, showcasing the name's reach beyond its Arabic roots.
While the name Jamel has its origins in the Arabic and Semitic languages, it has transcended cultural boundaries and gained recognition across various regions and communities throughout history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Jamel over time
The chart below shows babies named Jamel registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Jamel, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2022, compared with 19 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Jamel by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Jamel was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4001 | 4 | 1 |
| 2010s | #3660 | 43 | 9 |
| 2000s | #1730 | 103 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1154 | 50 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Jamel
- Jack 188,738
- Joshua 145,192
- James 141,878
- Joseph 102,259
- Jacob 93,754
- Jake 66,896
- Jamie 41,243
- Jordan 36,750
- Jayden 28,921
- Jude 24,156
- John 22,240
- Joe 19,164
FAQ
Jamel: questions and answers
How popular is the name Jamel in the UK right now?
In 2022, Jamel was ranked #4001 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Jamel most popular?
The peak year on record was 1997, with 19 babies registered as Jamel in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Jamel?
Masculine Arabic name meaning "beautiful, perfect, or handsome".
How many people are called Jamel in the UK?
A total of 200 babies have been registered as Jamel across the 24 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.