Joab

“Yahweh is father” — Hebrew origin

Boy's name · #2319 in the US (2025) · Trending

Joab is climbing: on the charts since 1965, it reached #2319 in 2025 — its strongest showing yet, with about 60 boys given the name last year. Roughly 1,000 have carried it all-time.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 3 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Famous Joabs

Joab Lawler — American politician (1796-1838)
Joab H. Banton — American lawyer
Joab Schneiter — Swiss cyclist
Joab Houghton — American judge
Joab N. Patterson — American Civil War officer (1835–1923)

In stories & tradition

Joab — First Book of Samuel · Second Book of Samuel

What Joabs become

Among 15 notable people named Joab:

No single standout — notable Joabs spread across many fields.

Similar names: Shmiel · Jovi · Yaziel · Joah · Eliab · Yosiah

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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