Joab is a boys' name of Hebrew origin, meaning “the Lord is father”, from Yoav. In the Bible, Joab is King David's nephew and the commander of his army.

Joab

Gender: Boy
Say it: JOH-ab
Origin: Hebrew
US rank, 2025: #2,304 for boys

Joab is a boys' name of Hebrew origin, meaning “the Lord is father”. In 2025 it ranked 2,304th for boys in the US (60 babies).

What does Joab mean?

Hebrew: from Yoav

“the Lord is father”

In the Bible, Joab is King David's nephew and the commander of his army.

Is Joab a girl's or a boy's name?

Joab is a boys' name. In 2025, it was given to 60 boys in the US. Too few girls were given it to be listed.

How popular is Joab in the UK?

No boys in the UK were given it in 2025, or too few to be listed. Its busiest year was 2005, with 12 boys.

Half of all the boys named Joab in the UK since 1996 were born between 2001 and 2010. It was already well used in 1996, when the records begin, so earlier boys aren't counted.

1996Busiest: 12 in 20052022

Joab in the UK, year by year

Year	Boys	Rank
2022	3	#5,017
2021	0	–
2020	0	–
2019	0	–
2018	0	–
2017	0	–
2016	4	#4,214
2015	6	#3,149
2014	7	#2,843
2013	4	#4,008
2012	3	#4,999
2011	8	#2,503
2010	6	#3,092
2009	7	#2,679
2008	10	#2,048
2007	10	#1,987
2006	4	#3,522
2005	12	#1,599
2004	8	#1,983
2003	10	#1,608
2002	4	#2,751
2001	7	#1,833
2000	7	#1,775
1999	9	#1,451
1998	4	#2,531
1997	5	#2,109
1996	5	#2,094

How popular is Joab in the US?

Rank in 2025: #2,304among boys
Babies in 2025: 60about 1 in 28,000 boys
Five-year trend: Risingup 65% in five years
Same name in a class: under 1%chance among 15 boys

In 2025, 60 boys in the US were named Joab, making it the 2,304th most popular name for boys. Five years earlier, in 2020, it was 4,017th. It first appears in the records in 1965.

2025 had the most boys named Joab of any year since it first appeared, in 1965.

Half of all the boys named Joab in the US since 1880 were born between 1998 and 2020, the years shaded on the chart below.

1965Busiest: 60 in 20252025

Joab in the US, year by year

Year	Boys	Rank
2025	60	#2,304
2024	45	#2,835
2023	40	#3,053
2022	41	#3,001
2021	42	#2,917
2020	25	#4,017
2019	31	#3,568
2018	32	#3,442
2017	29	#3,674
2016	30	#3,595
2015	33	#3,364
2014	23	#4,260
2013	35	#3,120
2012	17	#5,250
2011	21	#4,507
2010	16	#5,475
2009	21	#4,580
2008	24	#4,142
2007	31	#3,442
2006	20	#4,516
2005	17	#4,819
2004	20	#4,259
2003	16	#4,810
2002	22	#3,789
2001	16	#4,670
2000	15	#4,779
1999	17	#4,157
1998	17	#4,015
1997	14	#4,446
1996	17	#3,824
1995	16	#3,848
1994	13	#4,531
1993	16	#3,812
1992	10	#5,228
1991	15	#3,806
1990	14	#3,965
1989	11	#4,521
1988	7	#5,745
1987	8	#4,962
1986	7	#5,327
1985	9	#4,328
1984	8	#4,549
1983	7	#4,904
1982	7	#5,001
1981	6	#5,466
1980	7	#4,938
1979	10	#3,808
1978	5	#5,769
1977	5	#5,843
1976	9	#3,722
1975	5	#5,462
1974	0	–
1973	7	#4,052
1972	5	#4,983
1971	0	–
1970	0	–
1969	0	–
1968	0	–
1967	0	–
1966	0	–
1965	6	#3,535

Names like Joab

Names given in the same years and the same naming tradition, with a similar sound.

Jacob Joshua Musa Liam Ethan Luca Jonah Jude Caleb Jordan Ibrahim Hamza

Names related to Joab

Jobe Joby Job

More Hebrew names

Noah Isabella Elijah James Jack Mia Ava Ezra Benjamin Isaac Daniel Samuel Elias Mateo Elsie Levi

Every Hebrew name

Sources

Figures from Baby names in England and Wales (Office for National Statistics), Babies' first names (National Records of Scotland), Baby names (Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency) and Popular Baby Names (US Social Security Administration). Nameling last updated them on 20 October 2026. How the figures are worked out, and the data to download.

To cite this page: Nameling, “Joab: name meaning, origin and popularity”, https://www.nameling.co.uk/names/joab, updated 20 October 2026.