Israel Boy

Popularity: #299 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: IZ-ree-uhl /ˈɪzreɪəl/

Origin: Hebrew; English

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

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Israel has its roots in the Hebrew language, derived from the word "Yisra'el," which translates to "he who struggles with God" or "God contends." This etymology is linked to the biblical figure Jacob, who was given the name Israel after wrestling with an angel, as recounted in the Book of Genesis. The name appears in various forms throughout history, including the Greek "Israēl" and the Latin "Israhel," before making its way into Old French and eventually into English as Israel.

Historically, the name Israel is significant in the context of the ancient kingdoms of Israel and Judah, which were central to Jewish history and identity. The name is often associated with the twelve tribes of Israel, descendants of Jacob's sons, and it has been a symbol of the Jewish people throughout centuries.

The use of the name in religious texts, particularly in the Hebrew Bible, has solidified its importance in Jewish tradition. The establishment of the modern State of Israel in 1948 further reinforced the name's cultural and national significance.

In addition to its biblical roots, Israel carries connotations of struggle and perseverance, reflecting the historical challenges faced by the Jewish people. The name has been embraced in various forms across different cultures and languages, often symbolizing resilience and faith.

The diminutive form "Izzy" has also emerged in some contexts, although it is less historically significant than the full name. Overall, Israel remains a name steeped in rich historical and cultural resonance, embodying themes of divine connection and communal identity.

Famous people named Israel

In this section, you will find notable people named Israel. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Israel who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Israel who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Israel Kamakawiwo'ole is a musician best known for his rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow and his album Facing Future.

Israel Folau is a rugby player best known for his time with the Australian national team and the New South Wales Waratahs.

Israel Adesanya is a mixed martial artist best known for being the UFC Middleweight Champion and his fights against Robert Whittaker and Paulo Costa.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Israel, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

EthanNoahLeviSamuelMicahGabriel

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Israel. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

IsaiahEzraAsherElijahJosiahZachariahDaniel

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 Texas, California, 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)

The name Israel is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Israel was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Israel.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 1,123 1,081 42
2024 1,265 1,226 39
2023 1,592 1,537 55
2022 1,565 1,509 56
2021 1,605 1,548 57
2020 1,592 1,532 60
2019 1,691 1,622 69
2018 1,666 1,596 70
2017 1,649 1,594 55
2016 1,731 1,679 52
2015 1,642 1,582 60
2014 1,599 1,541 58
2013 1,520 1,473 47
2012 1,483 1,450 33
2011 1,648 1,612 36
2010 1,665 1,626 39
2009 1,809 1,776 33
2008 1,881 1,832 49
2007 1,995 1,937 58
2006 1,960 1,927 33
2005 1,695 1,655 40
2004 1,667 1,635 32
2003 1,401 1,368 33
2002 1,328 1,297 31
2001 1,377 1,340 37
2000 1,422 1,384 38
1999 1,308 1,272 36
1998 1,325 1,279 46
1997 1,192 1,169 23
1996 1,088 1,064 24
1995 1,007 975 32
1994 994 960 34
1993 932 913 19
1992 935 902 33
1991 869 848 21
1990 806 791 15
1989 759 759 0
1988 666 655 11
1987 621 614 7
1986 616 616 0
1985 598 598 0
1984 600 590 10
1983 596 589 7
1982 645 637 8
1981 604 594 10
1980 679 663 16
1979 700 686 14
1978 599 591 8
1977 638 630 8
1976 570 565 5
1975 540 531 9
1974 529 529 0
1973 481 474 7
1972 492 486 6
1971 475 470 5
1970 424 424 0
1969 357 357 0
1968 333 333 0
1967 277 271 6
1966 291 291 0
1965 260 260 0
1964 246 246 0
1963 222 222 0
1962 229 229 0
1961 233 233 0
1960 232 232 0
1959 220 220 0
1958 228 228 0
1957 176 176 0
1956 197 197 0
1955 189 189 0
1954 163 163 0
1953 186 186 0
1952 178 178 0
1951 178 173 5
1950 143 143 0
1949 146 146 0
1948 123 123 0
1947 112 112 0
1946 107 107 0
1945 82 82 0
1944 82 82 0
1943 90 90 0
1942 65 65 0
1941 84 84 0
1940 74 74 0
1939 74 74 0
1938 84 84 0
1937 70 70 0
1936 80 80 0
1935 80 80 0
1934 73 73 0
1933 74 74 0
1932 66 66 0
1931 73 73 0
1930 101 101 0
1929 79 79 0
1928 72 72 0
1927 100 100 0
1926 94 94 0
1925 103 103 0
1924 105 105 0
1923 118 118 0
1922 162 162 0
1921 142 142 0
1920 135 135 0
1919 129 129 0
1918 162 162 0
1917 143 143 0
1916 120 120 0
1915 137 137 0
1914 100 100 0
1913 116 116 0
1912 75 75 0
1911 40 40 0
1910 29 29 0
1909 27 27 0
1908 24 24 0
1907 19 19 0
1906 19 19 0
1905 19 19 0
1904 30 30 0
1903 14 14 0
1902 24 24 0
1901 14 14 0
1900 20 20 0
1899 12 12 0
1898 17 17 0
1897 11 11 0
1896 27 27 0
1895 15 15 0
1894 12 12 0
1893 14 14 0
1892 20 20 0
1891 18 18 0
1890 18 18 0
1889 20 20 0
1888 23 23 0
1887 15 15 0
1886 17 17 0
1885 22 22 0
1884 25 25 0
1883 18 18 0
1882 22 22 0
1881 23 23 0
1880 17 17 0

Top States for Israel (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
TX 261
22%
CA 211
18%
FL 72
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%
CO 20
2%
NJ 20
2%
VA 19
2%
TN 18
1%
MD 18
1%
MO 18
1%
NV 17
1%
MI 17
1%
OK 17
1%
KY 17
1%
MA 16
1%
NM 15
1%
KS 15
1%
SC 15
1%
AL 14
1%
IN 13
1%
MN 11
1%
UT 10
1%
IA 7
1%
OR 7
1%
CT 7
1%
LA 7
1%
AR 6
0%
WI 6
0%
NE 6
0%
ID 5
0%
MS 5
0%