Ishmael
A boys’ name of Hebrew origin, meaning God hears.
Ishmael by the numbers
In 2025, 6 babies in England and Wales were named Ishmael. In the US, 155 were, though that figure is from 2017, the most recent full year we hold.
For the size of the two countries, it is given several times more often in the US than in England and Wales.
Its best year in America so far is the most recent one on record, which means it was still climbing when the records end.
Spelled almost the same
Other names in the records within a letter or two of Ishmael. Close spellings are not always related names, but they are usually worth seeing together.
- IsmaelGod hears; form of Ishmael809 in the US (2017)
- Israelone who wrestles with God1,629 in the US (2017)
- Ismailgod will hear; a form of Ishmael200 in England and Wales (2025)
- Ismaeelgod hears; a form of Ishmael79 in England and Wales (2025)
- Izmaelgod hears; a form of Ishmael9 in the US (2017)
- Ishmealvariant spelling of ishmael, god hears7 in the US (2017)
Other names that mean God
Like Ishmael, each of these has God in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
Names about as common as Ishmael
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