Izrael
Izrael was the 2431st most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 56 babies. Its best year was 2023, when it ranked 1790th with 90 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 60 places. More babies were named Izrael in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Israel) God strives; he who wrestles with God · Hebrew
- Rank in 2025
- #2,431 boys, down 100 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 56boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 202390 babies
- Total since 1880
- 1,258babies recorded
What does the name Izrael mean?
Izrael is a spelling of Israel, pronounced the same way, so it shares Israel's meaning and origin.
Israel is the name given to the patriarch Jacob after he wrestles through the night in Genesis 32:29, and it became the name of his descendants and their land. DMNES glosses it 'he who wrestles with God', following the story, and Wikipedia explains it from a verb meaning 'to struggle with' and El, 'God'. Wiktionary notes the biblical explanation and that the name may first appear on an Egyptian stele of about 1200 BC. As a given name it is used by Jewish and Christian families and in Spanish as Israel.
יִשְׂרָאֵל (Biblical Hebrew, “Yisra'el”)שׂרה (Hebrew, “to struggle, strive”)אֵל (Biblical Hebrew, “God”)
How sure is this? Probable. The 'struggle with God' reading is the biblical explanation; the original grammar ('God strives' or 'God rules') is debated.
Related names: Yisrael, Isra, Izzy.
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. 'Israel', Durham University / The DMNES Editors
- Hebrew Bible, Genesis 32:29, JPS translation with notes (via Sefaria), Sefaria; verse reference and facts only, not quoted
- Wiktionary, entry 'Israel', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wikipedia, 'Israel (name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
Izrael popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 15 since 2017, 5 in 2025.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #2,431 | 56 |
| 2020 | #2,331 | 58 |
| 2010 | #2,340 | 55 |
| 2000 | #5,398 | 13 |
| 1990 | — | — |
| 1980 | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Izrael, counting every spelling?
Izrael is a spelling of Israel, a name family that ranked #307 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #2,431 for Izrael on its own. Together these spellings went to 1,142 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Israel | 1,081 | #315 | 6,901 |
| Izrael | 56 | #2,431 | 329 |
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 Izrael?
56 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Izrael (0.02 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Izrael 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 150 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Izrael.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Izrael?
About 1,200 people born in the US named Izrael are alive today, with a median age of 10; half are between 5 and 17. That makes Izrael a young name: most people with it are children.
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.
Izrael by state
How common Izrael was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Arizona (3.2×), California (2.0×), Texas (1.7×). In 46 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 Izrael: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Izrael, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Izrael
What does Izrael mean?
Izrael is a spelling of Israel, which means “God strives; he who wrestles with God” (Hebrew origin). Certainty: probable.
How popular is the name Izrael?
Izrael was the 2431st most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 56 babies. Its best year was 2023, when it ranked 1790th with 90 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 60 places. More babies were named Izrael in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Izrael a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Izrael in the US.
Where is Izrael most popular?
In 2021–2025, Izrael was most common in Arizona (0.12 per 1,000 boys), followed by California and Texas.