Ismael
Boy name · #263 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Ismael? In official American birth records, Ismael has been tracked continuously since 1903, giving it 122 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 1,307 baby boys were named Ismael, placing it at #263 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #401, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,377 boys born in 2025 was named Ismael.
The 122-year story
Ismael first appears in the Social Security records in 1903, when 5 boys received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2024, with 1,535 babies and a rank of #234. Names at their peak can keep climbing — or be one trend cycle from the long slide that eventually hits most popular names. 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 Ismael per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Ismael against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Ismael in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Ismael is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Ismael is most common
Geography matters for names, and Ismael is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Ismael is most common in NM (3.1 per 1,000), AZ (2.2 per 1,000), CA (1.9 per 1,000), OR (1.7 per 1,000), TX (1.5 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.9 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Ismael is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Ismael
Statistically, parents drawn to Ismael tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Israel, Raphael, Rafael, Leonel, and Isael.
IsraelRaphaelRafaelLeonelIsaelEzequielMisaelIsaias
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Ismael | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,307 | #263 |
| 2024 | 1,535 | #234 |
| 2023 | 1,425 | #244 |
| 2022 | 1,076 | #312 |
| 2021 | 928 | #350 |
| 2020 | 905 | #350 |
| 2019 | 875 | #365 |
| 2018 | 919 | #359 |
| 2017 | 814 | #392 |
| 2016 | 792 | #403 |
| 2015 | 772 | #401 |
| 2014 | 807 | #386 |
| 2013 | 746 | #400 |
| 2012 | 776 | #383 |
| 2011 | 789 | #376 |
| 2010 | 824 | #362 |
| 2009 | 863 | #357 |
| 2008 | 935 | #348 |
| 2007 | 978 | #327 |
| 2006 | 988 | #324 |
| 2005 | 898 | #335 |
| 2004 | 905 | #332 |
| 2003 | 871 | #332 |
| 2002 | 809 | #338 |
| 2001 | 866 | #325 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Ismael?
In official American birth records, the name Ismael first appeared in 1903 (over 122 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 122 years.
Is Ismael a popular boy name?
Ismael ranked #263 among boys in 2025 with 1,307 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #401.
When was the name Ismael most popular?
Ismael peaked in 2024, when 1,535 American boys received the name (ranked #234 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Ismael?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,377 newborn American boys was named Ismael. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.