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Ismael

♂ Boy

Pronounced iz-my-EL /ɪzˈmaɪ.əl/High

Meaning: God will hear; Spanish/Portuguese form of Ishmael, from Hebrew Yishma'el: shama (to hear) + El (God)High

In 30 seconds: The Spanish and Portuguese form of Ishmael, meaning 'God will hear.' The firstborn son of Abraham in the Bible, Ishmael is revered in Islam as the ancestor of the Arab peoples.
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Origin HighHebrew
MeaningGod will hear; Spanish/Portuguese form of Ishmael, from Hebrew Yishma'el: shama (to hear) + El (God)
Peak year2006
Total births (all-time)≈ 35,227

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200619032017

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Ismael is the Spanish and Portuguese form of Ishmael, from Hebrew יִשְׁמָעֵאל (Yishmael), composed of shāma ('to hear') and El ('God'), meaning 'God will hear.' In the Book of Genesis, Ishmael was the first son of Abraham, born of Hagar the Egyptian. In Islam, Ishmael (Isma'il) is revered as a prophet and, with Abraham, the builder of the Ka'aba in Mecca.

Ismael has been used in Hispanic communities for centuries, as well as in Muslim communities (as Isma'il). In the United States it has ranked in the top 200 boys' names for many years, particularly popular in Latino families. It is also associated with the famous opening line of Herman Melville's novel Moby-Dick ('Call me Ishmael').

Did you know? In the Bible, Hagar cried for her dying son in the wilderness, and God responded with the promise: 'I have heard the boy crying' (Genesis 21:17) — the very meaning of the name Ishmael/Ismael.

Variations

IshmaelIsmailIsma'il

Nicknames

IsmaIsh

Famous Bearers

  • ★Ishmael (biblical figure) (ancient)
    First son of Abraham and Hagar; revered in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Considered the ancestor of the Arab peoples in Islamic tradition.

If you like Ismael…

Israel— fellow Hebrew patriarch name of comparable biblical stature
Ezekiel— long Hebrew -el name with the same profound Old Testament weight
Rafael— Spanish -el ending name equally popular in Latino communities
Gabriel— archangel name in the same -el Hebrew tradition

Frequently Asked

What does the name Ismael mean?

Ismael means 'God will hear,' the Spanish/Portuguese form of Ishmael, from Hebrew shama (to hear) and El (God).

How do you pronounce Ismael?

Ismael is pronounced iz-my-EL (/ɪzˈmaɪ.əl/) — three syllables with stress on the third.

Is Ismael a boy or girl name?

Ismael is used exclusively as a boy's name.

How popular is Ismael?

Ismael has been a consistent top-200 U.S. boys' name, especially popular in Latino and Muslim communities.