UK name, mostly girls
Yael
A female given name of Hebrew origin meaning "ibex" or "mountain goat".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Yael is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Yael popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2411, with 11 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2015, with 16 births.
This profile covers 299 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. 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 69% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 297 living people in the UK are called Yael. 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 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Yael ranked #2411 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 11 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2015, when 16 girls were registered as Yael.
- • About 297 living people in the UK are estimated to have Yael as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 99.0% of Yael registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2411
2024
Births in 2024
11
Latest year
Peak year
2015
16 births
Estimated living
297
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Yael
In England and Wales birth records, Yael has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 1.0% of registrations are for boys and 99.0% 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.
Yael registered for boys
- Ranked #3,849 in 2005
- 3 boys registered in 2005
- Peak: 2005 (3 births)
Yael registered for girls
- Ranked #2,411 in 2024
- 11 girls registered in 2024
- Peak: 2015 (16 births)
Meaning
What does Yael mean?
The given name Yael is of Hebrew origin, derived from the biblical Hebrew name Ya'el, which means "ibex" or "mountain goat." The name is first mentioned in the Book of Judges in the Hebrew Bible, referring to the heroine Yael, who killed the Canaanite military leader Sisera by driving a tent peg through his temple as he slept.
The name Yael gained popularity in ancient Israel during the time of the Judges, when the biblical story of Yael's bravery and cunning became well-known. It was likely seen as a powerful and auspicious name for girls, symbolizing strength and courage.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Yael is found in the Book of Judges, which is believed to have been written around the 7th or 6th century BCE. The name also appears in various other ancient Hebrew texts and inscriptions from the region.
Throughout history, there have been several notable figures named Yael. One of the most famous was Yael Dayan, an Israeli writer, and peace activist born in 1939. She was the daughter of the renowned Israeli military leader and politician, Moshe Dayan.
Another notable Yael was Yael Naim, an Israeli-French singer-songwriter born in 1978. Her 2008 song "New Soul" became an international hit and was featured in several films and television shows.
In the 20th century, Yael Arad was an Israeli judge and the first woman to be appointed as a permanent justice on the Supreme Court of Israel in 1975. She served on the court until her retirement in 1988.
Yael Bartana is a contemporary Israeli artist and filmmaker, born in 1970, known for her politically charged works exploring themes of nationalism, collective memory, and social identity.
Yael Shelbia, born in 2001, is an Israeli model and actress who gained international recognition as one of the world's most successful teenage models, appearing in campaigns for major fashion brands.
The name Yael has maintained its popularity in Israel and among Jewish communities worldwide, often chosen for its biblical significance and powerful symbolism of strength and bravery.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Yael over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Yael in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Yael, the clearest high point is 2015. The latest England and Wales figure is 11 births in 2024, compared with 16 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Yael by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Yael 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 | #2154 | 63 | 5 |
| 2010s | #2501 | 115 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2037 | 100 | 10 |
| 1990s | #2744 | 21 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Yael
- Yasmin 10,052
- Yusra 2,725
- Yasmine 2,474
- Yara 1,487
- Yazmin 806
- Yumna 601
- Yasmeen 527
- Yasmina 518
- Yasemin 513
- Yana 452
- Yvie 377
- Yvonne 368
FAQ
Yael: questions and answers
How popular is the name Yael in the UK right now?
In 2024, Yael was ranked #2411 for girls in England and Wales, with 11 births registered.
When was Yael most popular?
The peak year on record was 2015, with 16 babies registered as Yael in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Yael?
A female given name of Hebrew origin meaning "ibex" or "mountain goat".
How many people are called Yael in the UK?
A total of 299 babies have been registered as Yael across the 29 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.