Ishmail, derived from Arabic roots, is a unique and distinctive given name. It means 'he who hears,' reflecting a profound sense of attentiveness and listening. The name's pronunciation, often /ɪsˈmæl/, adds to its phonetic charm. Ishmail is not particularly common in English-speaking countries, making it an excellent choice for those seeking a name that is both memorable and uncommon.
The name Ishmail has been given to babies born in the United States for over four decades, with a total of 208 recorded births since 1971. The popularity of this name has fluctuated throughout the years, with peaks and troughs in its usage.
In the early 1970s, Ishmail was given to five babies each year, but it gained some traction in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In 1992, a notable high of ten babies were named Ishmail, marking the highest number of births with this name in any single year.
The late 1990s saw a steady decline in the usage of Ishmail, with seven to thirteen babies being given this name annually between 1995 and 2008. However, there was another surge in popularity around the early 2000s, with eleven births recorded in 2002.
More recently, from 2003 onwards, the number of Ishmail births has fluctuated between five to nine annually, except for a spike of thirteen births in 2008. The most recent data available shows that six babies were named Ishmail in 2012.