יָעֵל
Yael means “ibex, mountain goat”
Yael is a girl's name of Biblical origin.
The woman who ends Sisera in the Book of Judges.
53,395 Jewish Israelis born since 1949 carry the name Yael.
- 53,284 of them are women and girls, and 111 are men and boys.
- 1,199 of them were born in 2014, more than in any other year.
- Carriers born 2020 to 2024: 4,912, against 5,664 born 2010 to 2014, so its share of births is about the same.
- The total includes the other Hebrew spellings the register counts separately: יאל. The chart shows the spelling יעל alone.
Central Bureau of Statistics register, April 2025. People who changed their name are counted under the one they carry now, and a year with fewer than five shows as zero.
This is how Yael is counted in each population group.
These are the people born 1949 to 2024 who carry the spelling יעל today, in each population group and sex the register lists for it. The rank counts the names given in 2024, and 1 is the most given. A count under 5 is not published, so the table says “fewer than 5”, and 0 means nobody.
| Population group | Carriers | Born in 2024 | Rank in 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jewish girls | 53,269 | 958 | 7 of 678 |
| Jewish boys | 102 | fewer than 5 | – |
| Muslim girls | 16 | 0 | – |
In 2024, Yael ranked 7 of 678 among the names given to Jewish girls.
Source: the Central Bureau of Statistics table of current first names of people born 1949 to 2024, by sex and population group (release 391/2025 of 8 December 2025, read on 2 November 2026). Groups and sexes with no row for this spelling are left out.
These six names are close to Yael in theme or origin.
These are the questions people ask about the name Yael.
What does the name Yael mean?
Yael means “ibex, mountain goat”. Yael is a girl's name of Biblical origin. The woman who ends Sisera in the Book of Judges.
Is Yael a boy's name or a girl's name?
Yael is mainly a girl's name. Of the 53,395 Jewish Israelis born since 1949 who carry it, 53,284 are women and girls and 111 are men and boys.
How do you write Yael in Hebrew?
Yael is written יעל in Hebrew. With vowel points it is written יָעֵל. The register also counts these other Hebrew spellings: יאל.
How many people in Israel are named Yael?
53,395 Jewish Israelis born 1949 to 2024 carry Yael today. The most were born in 2014. In 2024, Yael ranked 7 of 678 among the names given to Jewish girls.
Counts are Jewish Israelis born 1949 to 2024 who carry the name today, from the Central Bureau of Statistics register of April 2025. Meanings follow the standard etymologies of Hebrew name references, and where nobody can be sure the page says so.