Jewels
A feminine given name derived from the word "jewel," referring to precious gems.
Name Census estimates that about 1,208 living Americans carry the first name Jewels. It is a predominantly female name (97.7% of registrations). The average person named Jewels today is around 17 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Jewels births was 2015 (57 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Jewels. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Jewels is a relatively new arrival in the SSA data. The average bearer is just 17 years old, meaning it gained most of its traction in the last two decades.
People living today
1.2K
~ 1 in 283,737 Americans
Peak year
2015
57 babies that year
Average age
17
years old
2024 SSA rank
#4,595
Tracked since 1987
Gender
Gender distribution for Jewels
Jewels leans heavily female at 97.7% of total registrations, but 28 boys have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Jewels as a male name
- Ranked #13,111 in 2024
- 5 male births in 2024
- Peak: 2016 (8 births)
Jewels as a female name
- Ranked #4,595 in 2024
- 30 female births in 2024
- Peak: 2015 (57 births)
Popularity
Jewels: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Jewels from the 1980s through to the 2020s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 452 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Jewels remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Jewels by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Jewels during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Jewels' live
The SSA's state-level files cover 5 states and territories. California, Texas, Florida recorded the most babies named Jewels, while Ohio, New York, Florida recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 66 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Jewels
The given name Jewels is an English name derived from the word "jewel," which refers to a precious or semiprecious stone used for ornamental purposes. The name itself is relatively modern, emerging in the 20th century as a creative and unique name choice for baby girls.
Although the name Jewels is not directly linked to any specific language or culture of origin, its roots can be traced back to the Old French "jouel" and the Latin "jocale," both of which referred to playthings or jewels. The word eventually made its way into Middle English as "juel" and then evolved into the modern English spelling of "jewel."
Historically, the name Jewels does not appear to have been documented in ancient texts, religious scriptures, or historical records. However, its connection to precious stones and adornment may have been inspired by the reverence and value placed on jewels throughout various civilizations and cultures.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Jewels can be found in the 1920s, when it began to gain popularity as a unique and creative name choice for baby girls. Some notable individuals who have borne the name Jewels include:
1. Jewels Lunt (born 1980), an American actress and model.
2. Jewels Bonney (born 1924 - died 2009), an American jazz singer and pianist.
3. Jewels Mabee (born 1919 - died 1994), an American actress and dancer.
4. Jewels Jeffcoat (born 1967), an American professional basketball player.
5. Jewels Blackwell (born 1975), an American singer and songwriter.
While the name Jewels is not as widely used as some more traditional names, it has gained a niche following among those seeking unique and meaningful name choices for their children. The name's association with precious stones and adornment adds a touch of elegance and sophistication to its appeal.
People
Jewels + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Jewels as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with J
Other first names starting with J with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Jewels: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Jewels?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,208 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Jewels going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 283,737 US residents.
Is Jewels a common name?
We classify Jewels as "Rare". It ranks above 91.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,226 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Jewels most popular?
The single biggest year for Jewels was 2015, when 57 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Jewels is about 17 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Jewels a female name?
Yes, 97.7% of people registered as Jewels in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.