Israel

Meaning: He wrestles with God; he prevails with God; God rules
Origin: Hebrew

Nicknames: Izzy

Boy's name · #315 in the US (2025) · 2010s wave

Popularity over time

Israel reached its best rank, #202, in 2006 and ranked #315 in 2025. About 71,000 boys have carried it since 1880. In all that time it has never once missed a year of the national records.

Across the states

See where Israel is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 41 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Israel ranks in other countries and regions.

#101 in Mexico (2024) · #220 in Ecuador (2025) · #327 in New Zealand (2025) · #834 in England & Wales (2025) · #1,560 in France (2025) · #996 in Canada (2024).

Famous Israels

Israel Kamakawiwoʻole — Hawaiian singer (1959–1997)
Israel Katz — Minister of Defense of Israel (born 1955)
Israel Gelfand — Soviet-American mathematician
Israel Zangwill — British Zionist author (1864–1926)
Israel Adesanya — New Zealander mixed martial artist

In stories & tradition

Israel Hands — Treasure Island (book)

What Israels become

Among 878 notable people named Israel:

Business leaders appear 2.13× more often than among typical names — e.g. Israel Sieff, Baron Sieff, English businessman (1889–1972).

Spellings & nicknames

About 110 girls a year are given Izzy as their full name.

Similar names: Yisrael · Emmanuel · Ismael · Kaleb · Abel · Izaiah

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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