Is Israel a boy, girl, or unisex name?

Israel is commonly used as a Unisex name.

How popular is Israel?

It’s currently ranked #264 in the U.S. Recent trend: Falling.

How do you pronounce Israel?

IZ-ree-uhl · IPA: /ˈɪzreɪəl/

Israel Unisex

Popularity: #264 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Origin(s)

PronunciationIZ-ree-uhl / ˈɪzreɪəl

Hebrew; English

Meaning

Hebrew: 'he who struggles with God'; English: derived from the Hebrew name

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Israel has deep roots in Hebrew culture, originating from the biblical figure Jacob, who was renamed Israel after wrestling with an angel. It is a significant name in Judaism, symbolizing the Jewish people and their connection to the land of Israel. The name has also been adopted in various cultures and languages, reflecting its widespread influence.

Trend Summary

The name Israel has seen fluctuating popularity in the United States, with a notable presence in the early 20th century and a resurgence in recent years.

Variants

Izzy
Isra

International Variants

Israël (French)
Israil (Turkish)
Israele (Italian)

Famous people named Israel

Israel Kamakawiwo'ole was a Hawaiian musician known for his unique voice and ukulele playing.

Israel Putnam was an American general during the Revolutionary War, recognized for his leadership in key battles.

Israel Zangwill was a British author and playwright, known for his works on Jewish themes and social issues.

Israel Houghton is a contemporary Christian music artist and worship leader, known for his contributions to gospel music.

Fictional characters named Israel

Israel Hands is a character in Robert Louis Stevenson's novel 'Treasure Island', serving as a pirate and antagonist.

Israel is a character in the animated series 'The Amazing World of Gumball', known for his quirky personality.

Sibling Suggestions

Ethan Noah Levi Samuel Micah Gabriel

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Israel was first seen in the United States in 1880. Israel has ranked as high as #376 nationally, which occurred in 2007, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Illinois, and Florida. In the past 5 years the name Israel has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Israel (2024)

Year:

State	Births	Share
TX	261	23%
CA	211	18%
FL	67	6%
NY	63	5%
AZ	48	4%
IL	40	3%
NC	40	3%
OH	39	3%
GA	36	3%
PA	24	2%
WA	22	2%
VA	19	2%
MO	18	2%
TN	18	2%
MD	18	2%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

Year	Births
1880	17
1881	23
1882	22
1883	18
1884	25
1885	22
1886	17
1887	15
1888	23
1889	20
1890	18
1891	18
1892	20
1893	14
1894	12
1895	15
1896	27
1897	11
1898	17
1899	12
1900	20
1901	14
1902	24
1903	14
1904	30
1905	19
1906	19
1907	19
1908	24
1909	27
1910	29
1911	40
1912	75
1913	116
1914	100
1915	137
1916	120
1917	143
1918	162
1919	129
1920	135
1921	142
1922	162
1923	118
1924	105
1925	103
1926	94
1927	100
1928	72
1929	79
1930	101
1931	73
1932	66
1933	74
1934	73
1935	80
1936	80
1937	70
1938	84
1939	74
1940	74
1941	84
1942	65
1943	90
1944	82
1945	82
1946	107
1947	112
1948	123
1949	146
1950	142
1951	173
1952	178
1953	186
1954	163
1955	189
1956	197
1957	176
1958	228
1959	220
1960	232
1961	233
1962	229
1963	222
1964	244
1965	261
1966	291
1967	271
1968	333
1969	357
1970	424
1971	470
1972	486
1973	474
1974	528
1975	531
1976	565
1977	630
1978	591
1979	686
1980	663
1981	594
1982	637
1983	589
1984	589
1985	598
1986	616
1987	614
1988	655
1989	759
1990	791
1991	848
1992	902
1993	913
1994	960
1995	975
1996	1,064
1997	1,169
1998	1,279
1999	1,271
2000	1,384
2001	1,340
2002	1,297
2003	1,368
2004	1,635
2005	1,655
2006	1,927
2007	1,936
2008	1,832
2009	1,776
2010	1,626
2011	1,612
2012	1,450
2013	1,473
2014	1,541
2015	1,582
2016	1,679
2017	1,593
2018	1,593
2019	1,622
2020	1,532
2021	1,547
2022	1,506
2023	1,535
2024	1,220