Ismail
Boy name · 116 babies recorded · 1974–2025
Ismail: 116 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 11 births in 2025.
From the Arabic "Isma'il" meaning "God hears," this name has deep roots in both Islamic and biblical traditions, where Ishmael appears as the son of Abraham. Among its famous bearers are Ismail I, the founder of the Safavid dynasty who shaped Persian history, and the acclaimed Albanian novelist Ismail Kadare. The Egyptian city of Ismailia takes its name from Isma'il Pasha, a 19th-century ruler. In English-speaking contexts, the variant Ishmael is perhaps best known as the narrator of Herman Melville's *Moby‑Dick*, giving the name a literary resonance that extends far beyond its ancient origins.
Boy 20 of 52 years
- Peak year
- 202511 babies
- Latest (2025)
- #31611 babies
- Total births
- 116since 1996
- 5-year trend
- ≈ stablevs prior 5y