Ismael is a masculine given name of Hebrew origin. It means "God will hear" or "God shall listen". The name Ismael is derived from the Hebrew name Ishmael, which was borne by the son of Abraham and Hagar in the Bible. In the biblical story, Hagar, the handmaid of Sarah, became pregnant with Ismael after Sarah sent her away due to jealousy. When Hagar returned to Abraham, she gave birth to Ismael, who later became the father of twelve princes according to the Book of Genesis.
The name Ismael has been used throughout history and across different cultures. It was particularly popular among Muslims, as Ishmael is considered the patriarch of the Arab people and a prophet in Islamic tradition. Today, Ismael is still widely used as a given name in various countries around the world, including Spain, France, and the Middle East.
In literature, Ismael has been the name of characters in several notable works. Most famously, it was the name chosen by Herman Melville for the narrator of his novel "Moby-Dick". In this classic American novel, Ismael is a sailor on the whaling ship Pequod, who recounts the obsessive quest of Captain Ahab to hunt down the white whale Moby Dick.
In addition to its biblical and literary associations, the name Ismael has also been used by various notable figures throughout history. For example, Ismaelillo was the title given to the last Muslim ruler of Granada, Boabdil, who surrendered the city to Christian forces in 1492. Additionally, several prominent musicians have borne the name Ismael, including the French composer Maurice Ravel and the Puerto Rican singer Ismael Rivera.
Overall, the name Ismael is steeped in history and culture, with roots in biblical tradition and widespread use across different communities throughout time. Its meaning, "God will hear", reflects its origins as the name of a figure who played an important role in the early history of the Israelites.
The name Ismael has been given to babies born in the United States for over a century, with the first recorded birth occurring in 1903. Between 1903 and 1922, there were fewer than 30 births per year, with the exception of 1917 and 1920 when there were more than 20 births each year.
However, starting from 1923, the popularity of the name Ismael began to rise significantly. In that year alone, there were 37 births recorded. This trend continued throughout the 1920s and 1930s, with the number of births ranging between 40 and 80 per year.
The peak of popularity for the name Ismael came during the 1950s and 1960s when there were over 200 births recorded each year. The highest point was reached in 1962 with 233 births, which is more than double the number of births recorded in any other year prior to that.
Interestingly, despite a decline in popularity during the late 1960s and early 1970s, the name Ismael remained relatively consistent throughout the following decades. Between 1974 and 2005, there were consistently around 300-400 births each year.
Since then, there has been a resurgence in popularity for the name Ismael. From 2006 onwards, the number of births has steadily increased, reaching over 900 births per year by 2018. The most recent data from 2022 shows that there were 1076 births recorded, marking a significant increase in popularity compared to previous years.
Overall, it is clear that while the name Ismael may not have been particularly popular during its earliest years of record-keeping, it has since become a well-established and widely-used name in the United States. With over 41,000 births recorded since 1903, Ismael continues to be a popular choice for parents across the country.