Jewel
Jewel is an English given name often given in reference to the English vocabulary word meaning gemstone. The word jewel comes from the Old French word jouel, meaning toy or delight, and was ultimately derived from the Latin term jocus. The name might have originated as an affectionate pet name or been inspired by other gemstone names also in fashion in the Anglosphere during the 19th century.
Meaning & Origin of Jewel
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Jewel is an English given name often given in reference to the English vocabulary word meaning gemstone. The word jewel comes from the Old French word jouel, meaning toy or delight, and was ultimately derived from the Latin term jocus. The name might have originated as an affectionate pet name or been inspired by other gemstone names also in fashion in the Anglosphere during the 19th century.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Jewel
As a girl name
Jewel first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1880, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1920, when 826 Jewels were born — ranking #228 that year. As of 2026, Jewel ranks #1,457 for girls with 150 births, falling sharply (-35%). In total, more than 42K Jewels have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Jewel first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1880, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1926, when 149 Jewels were born — ranking #491 that year. As of 2026, Jewel ranks #7,342 for boys with 9 births, holding steady (-3%). In total, more than 5K Jewels have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Jewel
Phonetically similar names — useful when Jewel is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Jewel
What does the name Jewel mean?
How popular is Jewel in 2026?
When was Jewel most popular?
In which U.S. states is Jewel most popular?
Is Jewel a unisex name?
What names go well with Jewel?
About the name Jewel
Jewel is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1880 and has accumulated 42K births in the dataset. Jewel's peak popularity came in 1920 when it ranked #198. Use the chart and map above to compare Jewel's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1920 →
- Names of the 1920s →
- Names starting with "J" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.