Ishmael is a distinctive choice, ranked #2264 in 2024. Your child is likely to be the only Ishmael in their class.
💎
UK Rank 2024
#2264
About the Name Ishmael
Ishmael has seen a notable decline in recent years, dropping 629 places in five years. It was most popular in 1996 at #728 — parents choosing it today are making a deliberately counter-trend decision. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996.
Ishmael is distinctive enough that your child will likely be the only one in both their class and their school — standing out on every register.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Ishmael
Unlikely. With around 10 UK babies named Ishmael per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Ishmael in his class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Ishmael has been declining in UK popularity, dropping 629 places in the last five years. Its peak was #728 in 1996. Choosing it now means he is likely to be among the last of his generation with this name.
Ishmael is a distinctive choice sitting outside the mainstream UK top names. Parents choosing less common names often find their children appreciate the individuality as they grow up, rarely needing to add an initial to distinguish themselves.
Notable people named Ishmael include: Ishmael Muhammad — Ishmael Muhammad is an American minister for the Nation of Islam, an organization which combines black nationalism and Islamic teachings.; Ishmael El-Amin — Ishmael El-Amin is an American professional basketball player for Napoli Basket of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA).; Ishmael Davis — Ishmael Davis is an English professional boxer..
Ishmael does not appear in the US top 1,000 baby names, making it a distinctively British choice — your child is unlikely to encounter American Ishmaels in the wild.
10
UK babies named Ishmael (2024)
< 1
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.0
In a school of 600
↓ 629 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Ishmael
Likely around 1 other Ishmael in the class
UK Popularity (1996–2024)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
No US data available for this name
✨ Similar names to Ishmael
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Ishmael Muhammad is an American minister for the Nation of Islam, an organization which combines black nationalism and Islamic teachings. A son of Elijah Muhammad and Tynnetta Muhammad, he has served as the Nation of Islam national assistant minister to Louis Farrakhan since 1991.
Ishmael El-Amin is an American professional basketball player for Napoli Basket of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA). He plays the point guard position.
Ishmael Toroama is a Bougainvillean politician who was elected President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville in 2020. He is a former commander in the Bougainville Revolutionary Army.
Ishmael (Arabic: إسماعيل ʾIsmāʿīl) is regarded by Muslims as an Islamic prophet. Born to Abraham and Hagar, he is the namesake of the Ishmaelites, who were descended from him.