Jewel
Girl name · English · French · Latin · Old French
Meaningprecious gem · English
Jewel is an English and French girl name meaning “precious gem”. English names tend to be easy to say and spell, which helps them travel well. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It shares its name with a color or gem. It sounds crisp and confident, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length.
Famous Jewel
Jewel
American singer-songwriter
A ready-made answer when someone asks “Jewel, like who?” Jewel's Wikipedia article is in 44 languages. Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)
Photo: Davidwbaker, CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
Did you know?
- Scrabble scoreIf names were allowed in Scrabble, Jewel would score 15 points, thanks largely to the J (worth 8).
- GenerationJewel peaked in 1904, which makes it a Greatest Generation name, think great-grandparents.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Jewel would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 11,403 baby girls got the name in 2025.
- HistoryJewel has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Jewels, and counting.
- Where it's lovedWant to meet a lot of Jewels? Head to Georgia, where it's the #676 girl name, its best showing of any state.
US births per million girls, 1880–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Jewel
Jewel is a girl name of English, French and Latin origin meaning “precious gem”. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the consonant at the end gives it a confident finish. It was most fashionable in the 1900s, which gives it a vintage, grandparent-chic charm. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:English namesFrench namesLatin namesOld French names
Other spellings of Jewel
More English girl names
- Girl name: Olivia · olive tree
- Girl name: Charlotte · free
- Unisex name: Harper · harp player
- Girl name: Elizabeth · God is my oath
- Girl name: Lily · lily flower
- Girl name: Lucy · light
- Girl name: Lainey · possibly light
- Girl name: Scarlett · scarlet red
Questions about the name Jewel
What does the name Jewel mean?
Jewel means “precious gem” and comes from English. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Aziza (“precious, beloved”), Precious (“precious”), Quetzalli (“precious feather”) and Farida (“unique, precious”).
What is the origin of the name Jewel?
Jewel is English, French and Latin in origin. Names often travel between languages and cultures, which is why Jewel turns up in more than one tradition. Other English names to consider are Olivia (“olive tree”), Charlotte (“free”), Harper (“harp player”) and Elizabeth (“God is my oath”).
Is Jewel a boy or girl name?
Jewel is a girl name, though a few boys are given it too each year. In 2025, 141 US girls were named Jewel.
How popular is the name Jewel?
Jewel ranked #1,512 for US girls in 2025, given to 141 babies. Its best year was 1904, when it reached #198. Over the last five years it has slipped 501 places.
What names are similar to Jewel?
If you like Jewel, you might also like Jewell, Aziza, Precious, Quetzalli and Farida. Jewell is another spelling of the same name.
What should I know before naming my baby Jewel?
Jewel is an English and French girl name meaning “precious gem”. English names tend to be easy to say and spell, which helps them travel well. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It shares its name with a color or gem. It sounds crisp and confident, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.