إسماعيل

Ismail

boyArabic (Quranic), from Hebrew

Ismail is a Muslim boy name meaning “Ishmael, Prophet of God; God hears”.

MeaningIshmael, Prophet of God; God hears
GenderBoy
OriginArabic (Quranic), from Hebrew
Arabic spellingإسماعيل
Pronunciationis-mah-EEL
Muslim name?Islamic / Arabic name

Meaning and origin of Ismail

Ismail (Ismāʿīl) is the Quranic name of the Prophet Ishmael, elder son of Ibrahim and Hajar, who helped his father build the Kaaba and is the ancestor of the Arabs through whom the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ descends. The Hebrew original means 'God hears'. The story of his near-sacrifice is commemorated every year at Eid al-Adha.

Is Ismail a Muslim name?

Yes. Ismail is the name of a prophet in the Quran and is one of the classic Muslim names worldwide.

Is Ismail in the Quran?

'And mention in the Book Ishmael. Indeed, he was true to his promise, and he was a messenger and a prophet' (Quran 19:54).

Where is the name Ismail used?

Used across the whole Muslim world; Ismaila in West Africa, Smail in the Maghreb, İsmail in Turkey.

Gifts with the name Ismail

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Spellings and variants of Ismail

IsmaelIsmaeelIsmailaSmailİsmail

More boy names like Ismail

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Ismail mean?

Ismail means 'Ishmael, Prophet of God; God hears'. It comes from Arabic (Quranic), from Hebrew.

Is Ismail a Muslim name?

Yes. Ismail is the name of a prophet in the Quran and is one of the classic Muslim names worldwide.

How do you write Ismail in Arabic?

Ismail is written إسماعيل in Arabic script.

How do you pronounce Ismail?

Ismail is pronounced is-mah-EEL.

Is Ismail mentioned in the Quran?

'And mention in the Book Ishmael. Indeed, he was true to his promise, and he was a messenger and a prophet' (Quran 19:54).

Updated October 2026 · Researched by the Modern Muslim Names team. Spotted a mistake? Let us know.