Holding steady.
Popularity of Ishmeal since 1916
Babies named Ishmeal per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1997, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Ishmeal's real moment was 1916.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 17 |
| 1920s | 37 |
| 1930s | 12 |
| 1940s | 11 |
| 1950s | 0 |
| 1960s | 10 |
| 1970s | 5 |
| 1980s | 41 |
| 1990s | 91 |
| 2000s | 58 |
| 2010s | 19 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Ishmeal is a rare variant of the biblical name Ishmael. Its peak and only recorded year in U.S. Social Security data is 1916, when it was given to a small number of boys. The name has not reappeared in the top 1,000 since then, and its 1-in-N rate is negligible. Despite its obscurity, Ishmeal carries the same weighty biblical heritage as its more common form Ishmael. The name's trajectory has remained flat for over a century, making it a genuinely unique choice for parents seeking a name with deep roots but no modern baggage.
Ishmeal is a variant spelling of Ishmael, a name of Hebrew origin from the Bible. Ishmael was the son of Abraham and Hagar, and the name is traditionally interpreted as 'God hears'. The spelling Ishmeal is a less common variant that has seen occasional use in English-speaking countries, particularly in the early 20th century.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Izzy, Ish
Sibling names for Ishmeal
Names that share Ishmeal's style, for a brother or sister.
