"God prevails; God persists"
Origin: Hebrew
Language: Hebrew
Israel
Pronunciation: [ IHZR-ee-uhl ]
Does Israel flow with your last name?
An ancient biblical name meaning wrestling with God
Jewish
Christian
Hispanic/Latino
American
Biblical
Strong
Traditional
Spiritual
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
Share
Similar Names
Names Like Israel
Same sound, same style — different options
Nicknames
Nicknames for Israel
2 shorthand options for every setting
Meaning & Origin
Playground Safety
Kid-Friendly
Similar to Israel
See all →What the Israel report tells you
$9Personalized to your state, siblings, and priorities. Free playground safety preview included.
Is Israel the #1 name in your state, or barely on the radar?
Enter your other kids' names. We score how well they sound together.
Downloadable PDF + nursery art
Everything in one printable report. Frame the name art.
Start with a free preview
Playground safety check is free. Full report is $9.
What do you want to do with this name?
Keep Israel
Add it to your shortlist. Not losing this one.
Compare names
Put Israel head-to-head with your other picks.
Start comparing →
Nickname ideas
See what Israel actually gets called.
Browse nicknames →
What kind of baby name person are you?
3 minutes to find names that fit your style.
Take the Quiz
Things to Know About This Name
- Shares name with the modern nation-state of Israel, which carries geopolitical associations in some contexts
The Story of Israel
Israel comes from the Hebrew Yisrael, traditionally interpreted as he who wrestles with God or God persists/prevails. The name originates in Genesis when the patriarch Jacob receives the name Israel after wrestling with a divine being through the night. This transformative story gives the name profound spiritual weight across Jewish and Christian traditions.
Israel has long been used in Hispanic communities in the US and Latin America as a biblical name. It surged in popularity in the early 2000s, particularly in Latino communities, where biblical names carry strong cultural significance.
In Jewish tradition, Israel is the name of the entire Jewish people, as Jacob's descendants became the Twelve Tribes of Israel. In Christian and Muslim traditions, Israel remains a name of profound scriptural importance. In Hispanic culture, it is used as a given name with devotional respect.
Historical Record
Israel first appeared in US Social Security records in 1950.
Over 65,657 babies have been named Israel in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Israel is a steady classic , currently ranked #279 for boy names in the US .
Fun Facts
- The name Israel appears over 2,000 times in the Hebrew Bible
- Jacob's name change to Israel in Genesis 32 is one of the most famous naming stories in religious history
Israel in Other Languages
Greek
Ισραήλ
Arabic
إسرائيل
French
Israël
Hebrew
יִשְׂרָאֵל
Spanish
Israel
Popularity Over Time
#279
Current Rank
Stable
Trend
Steady Classic
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Israel
I
Israel Houghton
Musician
1971
Grammy Award-winning Christian gospel musician and worship leader
I
Israel Kamakawiwoole
Musician
1959
Hawaiian musician famous for his ukulele medley of Over the Rainbow
Names You Might Also Love
See all →
August
Boy
"great, magnificent"
#88
Evan
Boy
"young warrior"
#143
Forrest
Boy
"dweller near the woods"
#408
Harrison
Boy
"descendant of the ruler of the home"
#121
Callan
Boy
"rock, strong one"
#242
Compare Israel with:
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Boy
- Syllables
- 3
- Popularity Rank
- #279
- Total SSA Count
- 1,220
- Cultural Origins
- Jewish Christian Hispanic/Latino American
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- Moderate
Common Nicknames
Izzy
Iz
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Classic pairing, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Classic pairing, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
Middle Names
Middle Names for Israel
7 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
Premium
Check how Israel fits with existing sibling names — style, sound, and origin.
Enter sibling names above to see compatibility.
Also a Girl Name
Israel is also used as a girl name, ranked #3898.
View Israel as a girl name →Similar Names
See all names like Israel →For Parents
amz
Start a baby registry
Free welcome box on Amazon
The Baby Name Wizard
Names that age well — book
Nursery name sign
Personalized wooden letters
We may earn a commission from these links.
Compare Israel with...
Same Origin Names (Jewish)
See all Jewish names →Names with Similar Meaning
Names that share meaning themes with Israel
Can't decide?
Start a tournament bracket with Israel and other names you're considering.
Start a TournamentLike this name?
Check how Israel sounds with your surname and test for potential nicknames.
Analyze This NameExplore More Generators
-
🧝
Fantasy Name Generator
Create names for D&D and RPG characters
-
🐾
Pet Name Generator
Find the perfect name for your furry friend
-
🎭
Character Name Generator
Names for fictional characters across genres
Names You Might Also Like
View all →
August
Boy
Latin (augustus) origin
"great, magnificent"
#88 in US
Evan
Boy
Welsh origin
"young warrior"
#143 in US
Forrest
Boy
Old French origin
"dweller near the woods"
#408 in US
Harrison
Boy
Old German origin
"descendant of the ruler of the home"
#121 in US
Callan
Boy
Irish Gaelic origin
"rock, strong one"
#242 in US
Frederick
Boy
Germanic origin
"peaceful ruler"
#424 in US
Gideon
Boy
Hebrew origin
"feller of trees, hewer"
#332 in US
Cody
Boy
Irish Gaelic origin
"helpful; assistant; descendant of the..."
#289 in US
Save Your Name Card
Download a shareable image with Israel's meaning, origin, and popularity. Ready for Instagram, Pinterest, or texting to your partner.
Frequently Asked Questions About Israel
What does the name Israel mean?
"God prevails; God persists" (from Hebrew). Israel comes from the Hebrew Yisrael, traditionally interpreted as he who wrestles with God or God persists/prevails. The name originates in Genesis when the patriarch Jacob receives the name Israel after wrestling with a divine being through the night. This transformative story gives the name profound spiritual weight across Jewish and Christian traditions.
What is the origin of the name Israel?
Israel has Hebrew, Jewish, Christian, Hispanic/Latino, and American origins. In Hebrew, it means "God prevails; God persists".
Is Israel a boy or girl name?
Israel is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it is ranked #279. As a girl name, it is ranked #3898. Israel is more commonly used as a boy name.
How do you pronounce Israel?
Israel is pronounced IHZR-ee-uhl.
How popular is the name Israel?
Israel is currently ranked #279 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Israel?
Common nicknames for Israel include Izzy.
What are good middle names for Israel?
Popular middle name pairings include Israel James, Israel David, Israel Michael, Israel John, Israel Emmanuel, Israel Aaron, and Israel Luke.
What are good sibling names for Israel?
Names that pair well with Israel as siblings include Isaiah, Elijah, Ezra, Miriam, Leah, Naomi, Samuel, and Levi.
How many syllables does Israel have?
Israel has 3 syllables, making it distinctive and rhythmic.
Is Israel a common or rare name?
Israel is a popular name, ranked #279 for boys. It is well-known without being overused.
About the Name Israel
Israel is a boy name with Jewish, Christian, Hispanic/Latino, and American origins . The name means "God prevails; God persists" in Hebrew .
Is Israel a boy or girl name? Israel is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it ranks #279 in popularity. As a girl name, it ranks #3,898. Israel is more commonly used as a boy name.
Israel is currently ranked #279 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
The name Israel has 3 syllables and is pronounced IHZR-ee-uhl, making it distinctive and memorable.
Common nicknames for Israel include Izzy and Iz. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Keep Exploring
Hebrew Names
Browse all names with this origin
I
Names Starting with I
More boy names like Israel
Unique Names
Uncommon names with character
Name Personality Quiz
Find names that match your style
Name Swiper
Swipe through names, build a shortlist fast
Browse All Boy Names
Full list with filters and sorting
Recommended for Parents
amz
Start a registry
Free welcome box on Amazon
Baby Name Wizard
Names that actually age well
Nursery name sign
Personalized wooden letters
We may earn a commission from these links.
Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis