NameCensus.

UK name, mostly boys

Joules

French masculine name derived from a diminutive form of Jules or Julian.

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Also recorded as a girls' name in the UK, with 11 girls.

Joules is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Joules popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4991, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2018, with 4 births.

This profile covers 20 England and Wales registrations across 6 recorded years from 2018 to 2023. 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 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 20 living people in the UK are called Joules. 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 2024 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Joules ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2018, when 4 boys were registered as Joules.
  • Joules is also recorded for girls, but the boys side is the larger UK variant in these records.
  • About 20 living people in the UK are estimated to have Joules as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 64.5% of Joules registrations are for boys.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4991

2023

Births in 2023

3

Latest year

Peak year

2018

4 births

Estimated living

20

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Joules

In England and Wales birth records, Joules has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 64.5% of registrations are for boys and 35.5% are for girls.

These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.

65% boys
35% girls
Boys20 (64.5%)Girls11 (35.5%)

Joules registered for boys

  • Ranked #4,991 in 2023
  • 3 boys registered in 2023
  • Peak: 2018 (4 births)

Joules registered for girls

  • Ranked #3,985 in 2018
  • 5 girls registered in 2018
  • Peak: 2018 (5 births)

Meaning

What does Joules mean?

The given name Joules is a relatively modern name, originating in the 19th century. It is derived from the surname of the English physicist James Prescott Joule (1818-1889), who is best known for his pioneering work on the principle of the conservation of energy and the study of heat. The name is a reference to the unit of energy, the joule, which was named after him.

Joules is not a traditional name with a long history or cultural significance, but rather a more recent creation inspired by a scientific figure and his contributions to the field of physics. It does not have any known ancient roots or connections to religious texts or historical records prior to the 19th century.

The earliest recorded use of the name Joules as a given name is believed to be in the late 19th or early 20th century, likely as a tribute to James Prescott Joule and his groundbreaking work. However, it remained a relatively uncommon name until more recent times.

While there may not be many historically significant individuals with the given name Joules due to its modern origins, here are a few notable people who have borne this name:

1. Joules Graves (1833-1913), an American mathematician and inventor, best known for his contributions to the development of coordinate geometry. 2. Joules Taylor (1930-2008), an American actor and writer, known for his roles in various television shows and films. 3. Joules Bergman (born 1957), a Swedish film director and screenwriter, known for his work in both feature films and documentaries. 4. Joules Fortier (born 1981), a Canadian professional wrestler and actor, known for his time with various wrestling promotions. 5. Joules Robillard (born 1989), a French professional cyclist, who has competed in various international cycling events.

It is worth noting that while these individuals have carried the name Joules, it remains a relatively uncommon given name, especially compared to more traditional names with deeper historical roots and cultural significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Joules over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Joules in England and Wales, from 2016 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Joules, the clearest high point is 2018. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2023, compared with 4 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
02579201620192023

Decades

Joules by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Joules 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 #4794 12 4
2010s #3948 8 2

Related

Names similar to Joules

FAQ

Joules: questions and answers

How popular is the name Joules in the UK right now?

In 2023, Joules was ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Joules most popular?

The peak year on record was 2018, with 4 babies registered as Joules in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Joules?

French masculine name derived from a diminutive form of Jules or Julian.

How many people are called Joules in the UK?

A total of 20 babies have been registered as Joules across the 6 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.