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Israel

♂ Boy

Pronounced IZ-ree-ul /ˈɪz.ri.əl/High

Meaning: He who struggles with God; or God rules, God prevails; from Hebrew Yisra'el: sarah (to struggle, to contend) + El (God)High

In 30 seconds: The epic Hebrew name meaning 'one who struggles with God,' given to the patriarch Jacob after he wrestled with a divine being. The name of a people and a nation, it carries immense weight.
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Origin HighHebrew
MeaningHe who struggles with God; or God rules, God prevails; from Hebrew Yisra'el: sarah (to struggle, to contend) + El (God)
Peak year2007
Total births (all-time)≈ 59,512

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200718802017

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

History & Origin

Israel comes from Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisra'el), generally interpreted as combining the root sarah or yashar ('to struggle, to contend, to be straight') and El ('God'). In Genesis, God gave this name to Jacob after he wrestled with a divine being at the ford of the Jabbok. The name subsequently became the collective name for the twelve tribes descended from Jacob's sons.

Israel has been used as a personal given name in Jewish communities since antiquity and in Christian communities since the Protestant Reformation. In the United States it ranks consistently in the top 200 boys' names, especially popular in Jewish, Latino, and Evangelical Christian families.

Did you know? In Genesis 32:28, Jacob is renamed Israel after wrestling all night with a mysterious being: 'Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans and have prevailed.'

Variations

YisraelIsra'il

Nicknames

IzzyIzziRae

Famous Bearers

  • ★Israel Kamakawiwoʻole (1959–1997)
    Hawaiian musician known for his beloved medley of 'Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World.'

If you like Israel…

Isaiah— major Hebrew prophetic name with the same three-syllable gravitas
Ezekiel— another long Old Testament name with the same bold biblical weight
Elijah— towering Hebrew prophet name equally popular today
Jacob— the patriarch whose name was changed to Israel — a direct family connection

Frequently Asked

What does the name Israel mean?

Israel means 'one who struggles with God,' from Hebrew sarah (to struggle) and El (God). God gave this name to the patriarch Jacob in Genesis.

How do you pronounce Israel?

Israel is pronounced IZ-ree-ul (/ˈɪz.ri.əl/) — three syllables with stress on the first.

Is Israel a boy or girl name?

Israel is used exclusively as a boy's name.

How popular is Israel?

Israel has been a consistent top-200 U.S. boys' name, popular in Jewish, Latino, and Christian communities.