Meaning and Origin of: Israel

Boy name origins & meanings

Hebrew : Wrestled with God

What does Israel mean and stand for?

The name Israel is of Hebrew origin and means “wrestled with God.” It is derived from the Hebrew name Yisra’el, which means “God contends”. In the Old Testament, Jacob is given the name Israel as he wrestles with an angel.

Syllables: 3

Boy name variations

Family name origins & meanings

Jewish : from the Hebrew male personal name Yisrael ‘Fighter of God’. In the Bible this is a byname bestowed on Jacob after he had wrestled with the angel at the ford of Jabbok (Genesis 32:24–8).
name adopted by Jews with reference to the ancient Kingdom of Israel, destroyed by the Assyrians in 721 bc, or to the concept of Jewish nationhood, or, in modern times, to the state of Israel.
Comparatively recent adoption of the Biblical name in Britain among Nonconformists, especially in Wales.
altered form of Ezell.

What Does the Name Israel Mean?

Israel is a place name that has become quite the popular gender-neutral option. It is of Hebrew origin and means “he who struggles with God.”

How Popular is the Name Israel?

Israel is the number 234 most popular boys name in the US, according to 2021 Social Security Administration data. It has been fairly stagnant for the last two decades, remaining between 200 and 250.

However, it is the 8th most popular name on FamilyEducation.com.

Popularity of the Name Israel in the United States

According to Google search data analysis, in the last five years Israel was at its peak popularity in May 2021.

Israel was searched for most often in the following states:

Massachussetts
District of Columbia
New York
New Jersey
Maryland

Famous People Named Israel and Israel in Pop Culture

Aside from being the name of a middle eastern country, Israel first came to light as a popular given name when it was given to Jacob during his fight with an angel in the Bible. Since then, there haven’t been too many notable namesakes. The name appears to be the most popular in the musical world, with bearers such as Israel “Iz” Ka’ano’i Kamakawiwo’ole, Israel Houghton, and Israel Isidore Baline.