Joel is a masculine given name derived from the Hebrew name Yo'el. It dates back to ancient times, with its earliest known origins traced to the biblical Book of Joel in the Old Testament, thought to have been written around the 5th century BCE. The name means "Yahweh is God" or "Yahweh is the Lord" in Hebrew.

The Book of Joel is one of the Prophetic Books in the Hebrew Bible and tells the story of a prophet named Joel who lived in the ancient kingdom of Judah. The name gained popularity among Jewish communities and later spread to other cultures and regions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Joel is found in the Bible, where Joel, the son of Samuel, is mentioned as one of the judges of Israel. He lived around the 11th century BCE.

In ancient Greek sources, the name appears as "Ioel" or "Ioēl." It was also adopted into Latin as "Ioel" or "Ioël."

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Joel. One of the most famous is the biblical prophet Joel, who authored the Book of Joel in the Old Testament. Another well-known figure is Joel, the brother of the biblical prophet Nahum, mentioned in the Book of Nahum.

During the Middle Ages, Joel was a popular name among European Jews. One notable bearer was Joel ben Isaac ha-Levi (c. 1070 – c. 1145), a Jewish philosopher and commentator from Spain.

In the Renaissance period, Joel Berman (c. 1561 – 1625) was a Dutch philosopher and theologian who wrote works on metaphysics and natural philosophy.

In the 19th century, Joel Chandler Harris (1848 – 1908) was an American writer best known for his Uncle Remus stories, which celebrated African-American folklore and culture.

Another notable figure was Joel Roberts Poinsett (1779 – 1851), an American statesman and scholar who served as the first United States Minister to Mexico and is credited with introducing the poinsettia plant to the United States.