namesprite

Ishmael

RankLoading…|Male
“God will hear”

Ishmael from the Hebrew name יִשְׁמָעֵאל (Yishma'el) meaning "God will hear". In the Old Testament this is the name of a son of Abraham. He is the traditional ancestor of the Arab people. Also in the Old Testament, it is borne by a man who assassinates Gedaliah the governor of Judah. The author Herman Melville later used this name for the narrator in his novel 'Moby-Dick' (1851).

Biblical namesake: Ishmael is the first son of Abraham and Hagar. He is remembered as the ancestor of many nations and plays a significant role in the story of Abraham's family. (Genesis · Genesis 16, Genesis 21, Genesis 25)

Biblical2 syllables · /ˈɪʃmeɪl/

Overview

Popularity data is still loading.

Check back in a moment for rank and trend details.

Related forms

Names related to Ishmael through nicknames, language, or historical forms.

EsmailIsma'ilIsmael

Similar names

Similar soundJuneSimilar originArloSimilar meaningAvery
namesprite

Pick the perfect name — 145 years of real U.S. birth records. No ads, ever.

Name listsFind namesProAboutPrivacyTerms

Name data: U.S. Social Security birth records, 1880–2025.Built by two parents who couldn’t pick either.

  • Home
  • Lists
  • Saved
  • You