Ishmael
Ishmael is a boy's name of Hebrew origin.
Meaning
God will hear.
Origin and history
Ishmael is a classic name of Hebrew origin meaning 'God will hear'. It is famous both as a biblical figure and as the narrator of Herman Melville's classic American novel, Moby-Dick. While never a top-tier mainstream hit, it maintains steady usage in the United States.
Popularity in the United States
6,794 babies in the United States have been named Ishmael since 1880. It ranks #1462 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1231.
States where it is most popular
- CA (19.3 %)
- NY (18.1 %)
- FL (13 %)
- TX (12.5 %)
- PA (7 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 6 |
| 1890-1900 | 17 |
| 1900-1910 | 17 |
| 1910-1920 | 296 |
| 1920-1930 | 321 |
| 1930-1940 | 223 |
| 1940-1950 | 146 |
| 1950-1960 | 164 |
| 1960-1970 | 155 |
| 1970-1980 | 372 |
| 1980-1990 | 538 |
| 1990-2000 | 1,233 |
| 2000-2010 | 1,205 |
| 2010-2019 | 1,355 |
| 2020-2029 | 746 |
Famous people named Ishmael
- Ishmael Reed: Author, Poet
- Ishmael Beah: Author, Human rights advocate
Nicknames
Ish, Izzy
Fun facts
- The name is famous for opening Herman Melville's novel Moby-Dick with the iconic line, 'Call me Ishmael.'
- Derived from the Hebrew name Yishma'el, composed of the root words for 'hear' and 'God'.