Boy · #9,692 in 2026

Ishmeal

Name: Popularity of the name Ishmeal in U.S. births, 1880–2026
Creator: U.S. Social Security Administration
License: https://www.ssa.gov/foia/
Keywords: Ishmeal, baby name, popularity, U.S., SSA, rankings

Current Rank

#9,692

Peak Rank

#4,451 (1997)

Total Babies

301

5-Yr Trend

Stable

1916

First Year

2017

Last Year

1997

Peak Year

#4451

Peak Rank

301

Total Count

Years Active

The Story of Ishmeal

Ishmeal first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1916, with 9 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1997, when 14 Ishmeals were born — ranking #4,451 that year. As of 2026, Ishmeal ranks #9,692 for baby boys with 7 births, with steady use. In total, more than 301 Ishmeals have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

Top 10

11-50

51-100

101-500

500+

No data

Names that sound like Ishmeal

Phonetically similar names — useful when Ishmeal is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Ishmael
Ishmail
Ashmole
Emil
Ismael
Ismail
Immel
Imel
Ishma
Ajmal
Emul
Iml

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Ishmeal

What does the name Ishmeal mean?

Ishmeal is a boy's name that has been used in U.S. records since 1916. Behind the Name doesn't list a specific etymology, but the name has remained in use across multiple decades.

How popular is Ishmeal in 2026?

In 2026, Ishmeal ranks #9,692 among boys' names in the U.S., with 7 babies given the name that year.

When was Ishmeal most popular?

Ishmeal reached its peak popularity in 1997, ranking #4,451 that year with 14 babies given the name.

Is Ishmeal a unisex name?

In U.S. Social Security records, Ishmeal is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.

What names go well with Ishmeal?

Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Ishmeal include Sharief, Quinlin, Jowan. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Ishmeal

Ishmeal is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1916 and has accumulated 301 births in the dataset. Ishmeal's peak popularity came in 1997 when it ranked #4,451. Use the chart and map above to compare Ishmeal's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.