Boy · #10,860 in 2026

Ishmel

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

Current Rank

#10,860

Peak Rank

#5,588 (2000)

Total Babies

297

5-Yr Trend

Stable

1916

First Year

2022

Last Year

2000

Peak Year

#5588

Peak Rank

297

Total Count

Years Active

The Story of Ishmel

Ishmel first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1916, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2000, when 12 Ishmels were born — ranking #5,588 that year. As of 2026, Ishmel ranks #10,860 for baby boys with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 297 Ishmels 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 Ishmel

Phonetically similar names — useful when Ishmel 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
Immel
Imel
Ishma
Ajmal
Emul
Iml
Ashmole
Inal
Ismael
Ismail

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Ishmel

What does the name Ishmel mean?

Ishmel 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 Ishmel in 2026?

In 2026, Ishmel ranks #10,860 among boys' names in the U.S., with 6 babies given the name that year.

When was Ishmel most popular?

Ishmel reached its peak popularity in 2000, ranking #5,588 that year with 12 babies given the name.

In which U.S. states is Ishmel most popular?

Ishmel has historically been most popular in Kentucky, New York. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Ishmel.

Is Ishmel a unisex name?

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

What names go well with Ishmel?

Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Ishmel include Dae, Jakim, Deunta. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Ishmel

Ishmel is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1916 and has accumulated 297 births in the dataset. Ishmel's peak popularity came in 2000 when it ranked #5,588. Use the chart and map above to compare Ishmel'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.