Rising since 1985, #1,064 for boys today.
Popularity of Ismail since 1962
Babies named Ismail per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 12 |
| 1970s | 138 |
| 1980s | 247 |
| 1990s | 544 |
| 2000s | 860 |
| 2010s | 1,349 |
| 2020s | 872 |
Meaning & origin
Ismail is a name with deep religious roots, borne by an important prophet in Islam. In the United States, its use has been rising since 1985, reflecting sustained growth in immigrant and Muslim communities. The name peaked in 2025 at rank 1064, with 1 in 8373 male newborns receiving it. Geographically, Ismail is most common in New Jersey, New York, and Minnesota, states with significant Arab American and Muslim populations.
Ismail is the Arabic form of the Hebrew name Yishma'el (Ismael), meaning 'God hears.' In the Quran, Ismail is a revered prophet and the son of Abraham and Hagar, making the name profoundly significant in Islamic tradition. It has been widely used in the Muslim world for centuries, and its use in the United States reflects immigration and religious heritage.
Where Ismail is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Ismail” around the world
Where Ismail lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
480
babies in 2024
Ireland
5
babies in 2025
Quebec
10
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Izzy, Ish
Sibling names for Ismail
Names that share Ismail's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Aisha, Fatima, Zaynab, Layla, Mariam, Asiyah, Sundus, Ayaat, Hajra, Jakaria, Rumaysa, Faatimah, Hajer
Brothers: Ibrahim, Yusuf, Omar, Hasan, Muhammad, Ayub, Ibraheem, Rahman, Yasin, Yousef, Yousuf, Zakaria, Zakariya, Abdurahman, Abrahim, Dawud, Ebrahim, Jibreel, Luqman, Rasul, Sulayman, Yaqub, Yusif, Abdurrahman, Braheem, Mikaeel, Mustafo, Shoaib, Shuaib, Yacoub, Yousaf, Yussef, Zakarie, Zakariyya, Abdifatah, Abdulkadir, Abdulraheem, Abdulrahim, Ayuub, Brahim, Djibril, Ishaaq, Muhammadyusuf, Raahim, Shuayb, Yakub, Younus, Yussuf, Zakariye
