Ismail is a distinctive boys' name in United States, ranking #1500 in 2019 with 114 recorded births. The name reached its all-time peak in 2025 with 204 births ranking #1065. Since 1996, the popularity has increased by 115.1%. In 2019, approximately 1 in every 15,731 boys born was named Ismail. RISING Recent data shows the name is currently rising.
Ismail is the Arabic form of Ishmael and means "God hears". It is a major prophetic name in Muslim tradition and has a calm, dignified sound.
The name is especially important in Islam through the prophet Ismail, son of Ibrahim. It has remained widely used across Arabic-speaking and broader Muslim communities for centuries.