Israel — Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity

Israel

Israel is a boy's name of Hebrew and Biblical origin meaning “Sarah.” In 2024 it was given to 1,220 boys in the United States.

Israel at a glance

Gender: Boy name
Origin: Biblical & Christian · English & American
Meaning: “Sarah”
Pronunciation: /ˈɪz.ɹeɪ.əl/

About the name Israel

Israel belongs to the Biblical & Christian and English & American tradition. Its meaning — “Sarah” — is the sense carried by its Hebrew and Biblical roots, and it is the meaning we verified against published sources for this page.

In the United States, Israel first appears in Social Security records in 1880. It climbed to its best-ever rank of #202 in 2006, and in 2024 1,220 babies received the name — 70,134 in total since 1880. Those are the official counts, not estimates.

Israel in US records

First recorded (US): 1880
Best US rank: #202 in 2006
Peak year: 2007
Babies named Israel in 2024: 1,220
Total since 1880: 70,134

Similar names

More names from the Biblical & Christian shelf:

JamesHebrew and Biblical JohnHebrew and Biblical MichaelHebrew and Biblical DavidHebrew and Biblical JosephHebrew and Biblical ThomasHebrew and Biblical DanielHebrew and Biblical MatthewHebrew and Biblical

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Israel mean?

Israel means “Sarah” in its Hebrew and Biblical roots. We check every meaning against published sources before it appears here.

Is Israel a boy or girl name?

Israel is a boy name. In 2024, 1,220 babies received the name in the US.

What origin is the name Israel?

Israel comes from the Biblical & Christian and English & American tradition.

How popular is the name Israel?

Israel first appears in US records in 1880. Its best-ever ranking was #202 in 2006, and 1,220 babies were given the name in 2024.

How do you pronounce Israel?

Israel is pronounced /ˈɪz.ɹeɪ.əl/ (IPA).

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Meaning and origin for this page were checked against this source. US popularity figures are from the Social Security Administration's public baby-names data. If you spot an error, write to [email protected] — accuracy is the whole point of this site, and corrections are made fast.