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Ismael
Meaning: form of Ishmael · Origin: Spanish / Portuguese (Biblical) · Gender: usually a boy's name
Origin & history
Ismael is the Spanish and Portuguese form of Ishmael, from the Hebrew name Yishma’el, traditionally understood as “God hears”.
Popularity of Ismael in the US, 1880–2025
2025: 1,307 US baby boys named Ismael — #263 for boys · Peak: 1,535 in 2024 · 1950: 131 · 2000: 803 · 2020: 905
Source: US Social Security Administration (SSA) national baby-name data, 1880–2025 (names.zip). Counts are babies of that gender given exactly this spelling each year; SSA leaves out a name in any year with fewer than 5 births.
How to pronounce Ismael
ees-mah-EL · IPA /ˌiːsmɑˈɛl/ (common American English pronunciation)
Language of origin
Spanish / Portuguese form of Ishmael, “God hears”
How the meaning and use of Ismael developed
Ismael is the Spanish and Portuguese form of Ishmael, the biblical son of Abraham whose name is traditionally connected with God hearing.
Related names from the same root
Ishmael · Ismail
Sibling names that go well with Ismael
Sister: Ana · Aitana
Brother: Abraham · Jaziel
Our editorial suggestions — similar era, style and length — chosen from names with full pages on this site.
Nicknames
Isma
Variants & related names
Ishmael, Ismail, Ismaïl
Ismael name art
A free preview of a printable “Ismael” poster with its meaning — great for a nursery, a birthday or a gift.
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FAQ
What does the name Ismael mean?
Ismael means “form of Ishmael”. It comes from Spanish / Portuguese (Biblical).
How do you pronounce Ismael?
Ismael is usually pronounced ees-mah-EL (/ˌiːsmɑˈɛl/).
Is Ismael a popular name?
In 2025, Ismael ranked #263 among boys' names in the United States, given to 1,307 baby boys, according to US Social Security Administration data. Its peak year was 2024 (1,535 babies).
What are nicknames for Ismael?
Isma.
What are other forms of Ismael?
Ishmael, Ismail, Ismaïl.
What are good sibling names for Ismael?
Sister: Ana, Aitana. Brother: Abraham, Jaziel.
Similar names
Miguel · Andres · Mateo · Santiago · Diego · Carlos
Browse: Spanish names · all origins & themes
More: names starting with I · all boys' names · name art for any name
Sources: standard name etymology references (e.g. Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names); popularity from US SSA and UK ONS baby-name data. Meanings of old names are often debated — where scholars disagree we say so.