Ishmael - name meaning, origin

The boy's name Ishmael \i-sh-

is pronounced EES-mah-el. It is of Hebrew origin, and its meaning is "God listens". Biblical: the son of Abraham by Sarah's Egyptian slave woman Hagar. Among his descendants were Bedouin tribes and Muhammad (seventh century), founder of Islam. Literary: because Ishmael was cast out to wander in the desert, the name is often used symbolically, as in Herman Melville's novel "Moby Dick". Ismael is the Spanish form; Ismail is Arabic.

Ishmael has 4 variant forms: Ismael, Ismail, Ysmael and Ysmail.

Ishmael is an uncommon first name for men but a very common last name for both men and women (#14030 out of 88799). (1990 U.S. Census)

Displayed below is the baby name popularity trend for the boy name Ishmael. Compare Ishmael with its variant forms and related boy names.