Ishmael
Boy name · #1466 in 2025 · Uniqueness 72/100
Ishmael ranks #1466 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 121 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #1223, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 14,876 boys born in 2025 was named Ishmael.
The 145-year story
Ishmael first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 6 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2017, when 158 boys were named Ishmael — good for #1182 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Ishmael per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Ishmael against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Ishmael in class?
Ishmael scores 72 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. A high score means genuine rarity — your Ishmael will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Ishmael is most common
Geography matters for names, and Ishmael is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Ishmaels were TX (19), FL (17), NY (12), CA (10), NC (5). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Ishmael
Statistically, parents drawn to Ishmael tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Abimael, Mikael, Immanuel, Natanael, and Mikhael.
AbimaelMikaelImmanuelNatanaelMikhaelYisraelIzraelAsael
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Ishmael | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 121 | #1466 |
| 2024 | 121 | #1487 |
| 2023 | 120 | #1489 |
| 2022 | 97 | #1731 |
| 2021 | 143 | #1307 |
| 2020 | 144 | #1271 |
| 2019 | 143 | #1296 |
| 2018 | 139 | #1305 |
| 2017 | 158 | #1182 |
| 2016 | 132 | #1349 |
| 2015 | 150 | #1223 |
| 2014 | 141 | #1264 |
| 2013 | 121 | #1387 |
| 2012 | 127 | #1336 |
| 2011 | 133 | #1285 |
| 2010 | 111 | #1470 |
| 2009 | 117 | #1433 |
| 2008 | 100 | #1582 |
| 2007 | 116 | #1405 |
| 2006 | 114 | #1391 |
| 2005 | 124 | #1261 |
| 2004 | 124 | #1225 |
| 2003 | 106 | #1310 |
| 2002 | 118 | #1184 |
| 2001 | 142 | #1035 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Ishmael a popular boy name?
Ishmael ranked #1466 among boys in 2025 with 121 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1223.
When was the name Ishmael most popular?
Ishmael peaked in 2017, when 158 American boys received the name (ranked #1182 that year). Since 2017 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Ishmael?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 14,876 newborn American boys was named Ishmael. It scores 72/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.