Joel

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A masculine given name of Hebrew origin often used to identify a person or biblical prophet associated with visions and proclamations
2. A proper noun referring to an individual name commonly used to distinguish a male person, sometimes linked to ancient religious texts or cultural traditions
3. A personal name assigned to males, recognized in various cultures primarily as a male first name with origins in religious or historical contexts

Etymology: Joel is one of the Hebrew Bible's shortest books and gives its name to the man it describes, but the name is older than the book. It comes from Biblical Hebrew "yo'el," meaning "Yah is God," where "Yah" is a short form of the divine name. The Greek form "Iōḗl" passed into Late Latin as "Ioel" and then Medieval Latin "Joel," and English took it from there. The name did not arrive in English through one route alone. Its spelling and sound were also shaped by Old French and Middle English forms of the Breton name "Judicaël," which is where the name's partial connection to Joyce and Jocelyn comes from. The result is a name with a single Hebrew meaning that reached English by several separate paths, which helps explain why it looks like a close relative of other names with a similar sound.

Synonyms: Joël