Jael

At a Glance

Meaning

Mountain goat, ibex

Origin

Hebrew

Gender

Girl

Pronunciation

JAY-elListen

Jael (pronounced JAY-el, /ˈdʒeɪəl/) is a Hebrew girl's name with a meaning of 'mountain goat' or 'ibex' — fitting for parents drawn to its free-spirited, boho, clean, modern, outdoorsy, nature-inspired feel. You may see Jael described as meaning 'she who ascends' or 'one who climbs,' but that's a folk etymology; the name itself is tied directly to the animal, not a verb about climbing, even if the ibex's mountain-climbing reputation likely inspired that popular gloss.

Meaning & Origin of Jael

Meaning: Mountain goat, ibex.

Origin: Hebrew.

A common claim: Jael is sometimes said to mean 'she who ascends' or 'one who climbs'. Actually: This is a folk etymology — the directly attested meaning of Jael is 'mountain goat/ibex', not a verb about climbing, though the animal image may have inspired the climbing gloss.

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Jael

Popularity of Jael

Jael has never been a common name in Social Security data spanning 1957 to 2024, peaking at #988 in 2012 with 202 babies before settling to #1363 in 2024 with 138.

Names Like Jael

These names share Jael’s style, era or origin.

• Esti
• Nyomi
• Reva
• Zahli
• Zella
• Zerra

FAQ

What does the name Jael mean?

Mountain goat, ibex. (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Jael?

Jael is pronounced JAY-el (IPA: /ˈdʒeɪəl/).

Is Jael a popular name right now?

Jael peaked at #988 in 2012 and is ranked #1363 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1957–2024.)

Make Jael Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Jael, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.