Isarael
Hebrew name meaning "he who wrestled with God" or "contender with God".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Isarael. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Isarael today is around 36 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Isarael births was 1989 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Isarael. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Isarael. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
1989
5 babies that year
Average age
36
years old
1989 SSA rank
#8,396
Tracked since 1989
Popularity
Isarael: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Isarael by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Isarael during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Isarael
The given name Isarael is believed to have originated from the Hebrew language and culture, with its roots dating back to ancient times. It is a variant spelling of the name "Israel," which is derived from the Hebrew words "Isra" meaning "to wrestle" and "El" meaning "God." The name is often interpreted as "one who wrestles with God" or "one who prevails with God."
One of the earliest and most significant references to the name Isarael can be found in the Hebrew Bible, where it is mentioned as the name given to Jacob after he wrestled with an angel of God. This pivotal event is described in the Book of Genesis, where Jacob is renamed Israel, signifying his spiritual transformation and his covenant with God.
The name Isarael gained prominence in the biblical narrative as it became associated with the Israelites, the descendants of Jacob, who formed one of the ancient Semitic nations. It was a name deeply rooted in the Judaic tradition and carried significant religious and cultural significance.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Isarael or its variant spellings. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this name was Isarael ben Eliezer, a renowned Jewish scholar and philosopher who lived in the 9th century CE. He was known for his contributions to the field of Jewish mysticism and his influential work, the "Sefer Yetzirah" (Book of Creation).
Another prominent figure was Isarael Baal Shem Tov (1698-1760), the founder of the Hasidic movement in Judaism. He was a mystic and spiritual leader who emphasized the importance of joy, devotion, and spiritual introspection, and his teachings had a profound impact on Jewish life and thought.
In the realm of literature, Isarael Zangwill (1864-1926) was a British writer and playwright known for his works that explored Jewish identity and the challenges faced by immigrant communities. His novel "Children of the Ghetto" and his play "The Melting Pot" were significant contributions to early 20th-century literature.
The name Isarael also found its way into the world of music with figures like Isarael Kamakawiwo'ole (1959-1997), a Hawaiian musician and activist who gained international recognition for his unique rendition of the song "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." His music celebrated Hawaiian culture and promoted indigenous rights.
Lastly, Isarael Adesanya (born 1989) is a contemporary professional mixed martial artist and former UFC Interim Middleweight Champion. He is of Nigerian descent and has made a significant impact in the world of combat sports, earning recognition for his fighting skills and his contributions to the sport.
These individuals, spanning various eras and fields, exemplify the rich history and cultural significance associated with the name Isarael, reflecting its deep roots in ancient traditions and its enduring presence across diverse contexts.
People
Isarael + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Isarael as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with I
Other first names starting with I with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Isarael: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Isarael?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Isarael going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Isarael a common name?
We classify Isarael as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Isarael most popular?
The single biggest year for Isarael was 1989, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Isarael is about 36 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Isarael in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Isarael a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Isarael in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Isarael still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Isarael in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Isarael can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have Isarael as a first name?
If you just want to know how many people have the name Isarael, HowManyOfMe.org gives you the headline number in one glance.