Israel
How to say it: iz-RAY-ul · /ɪzˈreɪəl/
He who struggles with God; the name given to Jacob in Genesis after wrestling with the angel.
Israel was the 248th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 1,081 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 2010s, its births are down about 22% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #284 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #248 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 1,081 |
| Share of births | 1 in 2,168 |
| Peak decade | 2010s |
| Change over 10 years | −22% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #284 |
| In France, 2025 | #889 among boys’ names, 30 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Well used still, Israel reached its height in the 2010s. A modest slip seems ahead though levels stay near the top.
What goes with it
Flowing soft sounds carry strength with biblical resonance and roots as a place name. Judah feels close in style, with Izzy as a short form.
Middle names that flow with Israel →
Parents who love Israel also love
Nicknames
- Izzy
- Izzie
Honouring a Israel in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Israel is about 1 in 91.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Danish, English, Finnish, French, Hebrew, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish.
In France: #889 for boys in 2025.
Famous people named Israel
- Israel Katz (born 1955)Israeli politician, Minister of Defense of Israel
- Israel Kamakawiwoʻole (1959–1997)Hawaiian singer
- Israel Adesanya (born 1989)Nigerian mixed martial artist
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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