Ismay is an uncommon given name of unknown origin, but it is believed to have been brought to public attention through its use by British author Rudyard Kipling for the character Ismay in his 1902 novel 'Just So Stories'. The name Ismay has since gained some popularity as a unisex name. In the English-speaking world, it is pronounced /ˈɪzmeɪ/.
"The name Ismay experienced some fluctuation in popularity over these years, with a peak of 8 births each in 1920 and 1922, and lower numbers ranging from 5 to 7 in the other years. Overall, there were 52 babies named Ismay born during this period."