Given name & surname
Ismail
“God will listen”
Ismail is a variant of Ishmael. One Hebrew interpretation is “God will listen.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Ismail is a variant of Ishmael. One Hebrew interpretation is “God will listen.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Arabic.
How it developed
Ismail developed from ישמעאל.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1962. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Ismail is a variant of Ishmael. The history of Ishmael gives this family its wider story. In biblical tradition, Ishmael is the name of Abraham’s first son.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Ismail through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 4,022
- 4,022 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 2025
- 204 babies
- 2025
- 204
- #1,065 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +3%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 204 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 1,065 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 2.9% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (34). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 6,001 as a first name in 2020; 8,759 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Ismail’s family of names
In English usage, Ismail has a diminutive in Izzy. In English usage, Ismail shares an earlier linguistic root with Ishmael. In German usage, Ismail has a related form in Ismael.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Ismail has relatives in 7 languages. Lines run from its Arabic roots to each of them.
10 related names in 7 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 7
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 7
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 5
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Ismail
- Ismail HaniyehHamas leader (1962–2025)
- Ismail Ifounder and first shah of Safavid Iran1487–1524
- Ismail al-FaruqiPalestinian-American Muslim philosopher and scholar (1921–1986)
- Isma'il Pasha of EgyptKhedive of Egypt from 1863 to 18791830–1895
- Ibn KathirSyrian Islamic historian, exegete and scholar (c.1300–1373)1301–1373
- Ismail QemaliPrime Minister of Albania (1844-1919)
- Ismail IISafavid Shah of Iran from 1576 to 15771533–1577
- Ismail Ibn SharifSultan of Morocco from 1672 to 17271645–1727
- Ismail GasprinskyCrimean Tatar intellectual and politician (1851-1914)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Ismail, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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