Israel
Boy name · #315 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Israel? In official American birth records, Israel has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Israel ranks #315 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 1,081 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #240, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,665 boys born in 2025 was named Israel.
Babies named Israel per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Israel first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 17 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2007, when 1,937 boys were named Israel — good for #204 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Israel against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Israel in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Israel 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 Israel is most common
Geography matters for names, and Israel is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Israel is most common in NM (1.8 per 1,000), AZ (1.2 per 1,000), TX (1.2 per 1,000), CA (1.1 per 1,000), AR (1 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.7 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Israel is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Israel
Statistically, parents drawn to Israel tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Ismael, Rafael, Misael, Raphael, and Uriel.
IsmaelRafaelMisaelRaphaelUrielMiguelNathanaelEmanuel
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Israel | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,081 | #315 |
| 2024 | 1,226 | #278 |
| 2023 | 1,537 | #229 |
| 2022 | 1,509 | #233 |
| 2021 | 1,548 | #234 |
| 2020 | 1,532 | #237 |
| 2019 | 1,622 | #234 |
| 2018 | 1,596 | #239 |
| 2017 | 1,594 | #235 |
| 2016 | 1,679 | #232 |
| 2015 | 1,582 | #240 |
| 2014 | 1,541 | #242 |
| 2013 | 1,473 | #245 |
| 2012 | 1,450 | #253 |
| 2011 | 1,612 | #218 |
| 2010 | 1,626 | #220 |
| 2009 | 1,776 | #211 |
| 2008 | 1,832 | #210 |
| 2007 | 1,937 | #204 |
| 2006 | 1,927 | #202 |
| 2005 | 1,655 | #217 |
| 2004 | 1,635 | #215 |
| 2003 | 1,368 | #247 |
| 2002 | 1,297 | #251 |
| 2001 | 1,340 | #249 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Israel?
In official American birth records, the name Israel first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 17 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Israel a popular boy name?
Israel ranked #315 among boys in 2025 with 1,081 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #240.
When was the name Israel most popular?
Israel peaked in 2007, when 1,937 American boys received the name (ranked #204 that year). Since 2007 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Israel?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,665 newborn American boys was named Israel. 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.