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Boy name

Ishmael

As of 2025, Ishmael ranks #1466 among American boys' names, according to Social Security records. 121 boys received the name that year. Here's the interesting part: Ishmael peaked in 1912, faded, and is now climbing again — a classic comeback pattern. SSA records for Ishmael go back to 1880; the peak came in 1912 at #783, with 31 babies named that year. Geographically, it's strongest in Florida, where it ranks #846 among boy names.

Rankings

2025 rank
#1466
among boy names
Trend
Comeback
last 5 years
All-time peak
#783
in 1912 (1910s)
Babies in 2025
121
boys named Ishmael

Ishmael popularity, 1880–2025

0.002%0.005%0.007%0.009%18801900192019401960198020002020#783 in 1912
Boys — share of U.S. male birthsSource: SSA, 1880–2025◆ peak 1912

Where Ishmael is most popular

Alaska: fewer than 5 boys named Ishmael in 2025AK—Maine: fewer than 5 boys named Ishmael in 2025ME—Vermont: fewer than 5 boys named Ishmael in 2025VT—New Hampshire: fewer than 5 boys named Ishmael in 2025NH—Washington: fewer than 5 boys named Ishmael in 2025WA—Idaho: fewer than 5 boys named Ishmael in 2025ID—Montana: fewer than 5 boys named Ishmael in 2025MT—North Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Ishmael in 2025ND—Minnesota: fewer than 5 boys named Ishmael in 2025MN—Wisconsin: fewer than 5 boys named Ishmael in 2025WI—Michigan: fewer than 5 boys named Ishmael in 2025MI—New York: #994 (12 boys, 0.01% of boys born 2025)NY#994Massachusetts: fewer than 5 boys named Ishmael in 2025MA—Rhode Island: fewer than 5 boys named Ishmael in 2025RI—Oregon: fewer than 5 boys named Ishmael in 2025OR—Nevada: fewer than 5 boys named Ishmael in 2025NV—Wyoming: fewer than 5 boys named Ishmael in 2025WY—South Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Ishmael in 2025SD—Iowa: fewer than 5 boys named Ishmael in 2025IA—Illinois: fewer than 5 boys named Ishmael in 2025IL—Indiana: fewer than 5 boys named Ishmael in 2025IN—Ohio: fewer than 5 boys named Ishmael in 2025OH—Pennsylvania: #1231 (5 boys, 0.01% of boys born 2025)PA#1231New Jersey: fewer than 5 boys named Ishmael in 2025NJ—Connecticut: fewer than 5 boys named Ishmael in 2025CT—California: #1582 (10 boys, 0.01% of boys born 2025)CA#1582Utah: fewer than 5 boys named Ishmael in 2025UT—Colorado: fewer than 5 boys named Ishmael in 2025CO—Nebraska: fewer than 5 boys named Ishmael in 2025NE—Missouri: fewer than 5 boys named Ishmael in 2025MO—Kentucky: fewer than 5 boys named Ishmael in 2025KY—West Virginia: fewer than 5 boys named Ishmael in 2025WV—Virginia: #1089 (5 boys, 0.01% of boys born 2025)VA#1089Maryland: fewer than 5 boys named Ishmael in 2025MD—Delaware: fewer than 5 boys named Ishmael in 2025DE—Arizona: fewer than 5 boys named Ishmael in 2025AZ—New Mexico: fewer than 5 boys named Ishmael in 2025NM—Kansas: fewer than 5 boys named Ishmael in 2025KS—Arkansas: fewer than 5 boys named Ishmael in 2025AR—Tennessee: fewer than 5 boys named Ishmael in 2025TN—North Carolina: #1277 (5 boys, 0.01% of boys born 2025)NC#1277South Carolina: fewer than 5 boys named Ishmael in 2025SC—District of Columbia: fewer than 5 boys named Ishmael in 2025DC—Oklahoma: fewer than 5 boys named Ishmael in 2025OK—Louisiana: fewer than 5 boys named Ishmael in 2025LA—Mississippi: fewer than 5 boys named Ishmael in 2025MS—Alabama: fewer than 5 boys named Ishmael in 2025AL—Georgia: fewer than 5 boys named Ishmael in 2025GA—Hawaii: fewer than 5 boys named Ishmael in 2025HI—Texas: #1135 (19 boys, 0.01% of boys born 2025)TX#1135Florida: #846 (17 boys, 0.02% of boys born 2025)FL#846
Share of boys born in 2025:lowhighno data (< 5 births)
Strongest states: Florida (#846), New York (#994), Virginia (#1089)

Uniqueness score

61/ 100Uncommon
everywhereone of a kind

Distinctive without being unheard of. Based on how many babies per birth were named Ishmael in the most recent year of SSA data.

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