Ismail
Ismail was the 1065th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 204 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 112 places. More babies were named Ismail in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Ismael) God hears (Spanish form of Ishmael) · Hebrew, Spanish
- Rank in 2025
- #1,065 boys, up 298 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 204boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2025204 babies
- Total since 1880
- 4,022babies recorded
What does the name Ismail mean?
Ismail is a spelling of Ismael, pronounced the same way, so it shares Ismael's meaning and origin.
Ismael is the Spanish, Portuguese and Latin form of Ishmael, the son of Abraham and Hagar in Genesis. DMNES and Wiktionary derive the Hebrew Yishma'el from 'God hears'; Genesis 16:11 explains the name by saying God has heard Hagar's distress. Wiktionary notes that Ishmael is traditionally regarded as the ancestor of the Arabs, and Ismail is the Arabic form. DMNES adds that a Welsh name Isfael was sometimes spelled Ismael and confused with it.
יִשְׁמָעֵאל (Biblical Hebrew, “Yishma'el, God hears”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Related names: Ishmael, Ismail, Ismaël.
See also: Hebrew names, names that mean God.
Sources for this meaning
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Ishmael', Durham University / The DMNES Editors
- Hebrew Bible, Genesis 16:11, JPS translation with notes (via Sefaria), Sefaria; verse reference and facts only, not quoted
- Wiktionary, entry 'Ishmael', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wikipedia, 'Ismael (given name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
Ismail popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,065 | 204 |
| 2020 | #1,363 | 130 |
| 2010 | #1,661 | 94 |
| 2000 | #1,690 | 68 |
| 1990 | #1,853 | 42 |
| 1980 | #1,882 | 30 |
| 1970 | #4,014 | 7 |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Ismail, counting every spelling?
Ismail is a spelling of Ismael, a name family that ranked #241 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #1,065 for Ismail on its own. Together these spellings went to 1,567 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ismael | 1,307 | #263 | 6,271 |
| Ismail | 204 | #1,065 | 742 |
| Ismaeel | 29 | #3,798 | 137 |
| Izmael | 27 | #3,983 | 127 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Ismail?
204 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Ismail (0.06 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Ismail born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 41 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Ismail.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Ismail?
About 3,900 people born in the US named Ismail are alive today, with a median age of 14; half are between 8 and 25. That makes Ismail mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Ismail by state
How common Ismail was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in New York (3.3×), Minnesota (3.2×), New Jersey (2.3×), Virginia (2.2×), Illinois (2.0×). In 37 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Ismail: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Ismail, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Ismail
What does Ismail mean?
Ismail is a spelling of Ismael, which means “God hears (Spanish form of Ishmael)” (Hebrew, Spanish origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Ismail?
Ismail was the 1065th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 204 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 112 places. More babies were named Ismail in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Ismail a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Ismail in the US.
Where is Ismail most popular?
In 2021–2025, Ismail was most common in New York (0.28 per 1,000 boys), followed by Minnesota and New Jersey.