Joel comes from the Hebrew name Yo’el (יוֹ ֵאל), meaning "Yahweh (YHWH) is God," from the elements yo (יוֹ) and 'el (ֵאל ), both referring to the Hebrew God. Joel is a figure in the Abrahamic faiths as a minor prophet and author of the Book of Joel. The name first gained popularity amongst Christians in England following the Protestant Reformation.