Ishmael

Ishmael is a male first name that is regarded as the English variant of the biblical Ishmael. This name has its roots in the ancient Hebrew Yishma'el (יִשְׁמָעֵאל) and is directly translated as "the one heard by God," "God hears," or "may God hear."

What does the name Ishmael mean?

The name Ishmael is the English form of the biblical Ishmael, which derives from the ancient Hebrew Yishma'el (יִשְׁמָעֵאל). Translated, it means "the one heard by God," "God hears," or "may God hear." The roots of the name lie in ancient Hebrew and consist of the elements yi (יִ) for "he," shama' (שָׁמַע) for "to hear," and 'el (אֵל) for "God" or "the Mighty." The name became known through Herman Melville's novel "Moby Dick." In the Old Testament, Ishmael is the first son of Abraham, who, according to legend, was childless for a long time until God heard his prayers and granted him a son. Ishmael is also regarded as the patriarch of the Arabs. Alternatives of the name include Isamael, Ismaele, Ismail, Ismaili, Esmail, Ismaeel, Ismahel, Ismo, Esmaeel, Esmaeil, and Ismoil. Female variants are Ismaela and Ismaila.

Where does the name Ishmael come from?

Ishmael is a male first name of ancient Hebrew origin and means "the one heard by God." The

How do you pronounce Ishmael?

Ishmael is pronounced approximately as 'Is-ma-el.'

When is the name day of Ishmael?

The name day for Ishmael falls on June 17.

Popularity

In Germany, Ishmael is considered a rare first name. In 2020, it ranked 4,047th on the list of the most common male baby names. Its best ranking was 3,920th in 2019. In the last ten years, the name has been given as a first name fewer than 10 times, resulting in a 6,739th place in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 8,037th.

Nicknames & pet names

Ishi

Famous people

• Ishmael Awange (basketball player from Belarus)
• Ishmael Bernal (Filipino film director)
• Ishmael Miller (British football player)
• Ishmael Noko (Zimbabwean theologian)
• Ishmael Philemon Ackon (Ghanaian singer)
• Ishmael Reed (American writer)
• Ishmael Smith (basketball player from the USA)
• Ishmael Welsh (English football player)
• Ishmael Yartei (football player from Ghana)
• Ishmael Yartey (Ghanaian football player)
• Omari Ishmael Grandberry (American actor)
• Pablo Simeon Ishmael Mills (football player from Great Britain)