Israel means he who wrestles with God — the name God gave Jacob after he wrestled with an angel all night. An entire nation, an entire people, and one of the most contested territories on Earth bear this name. Israel Kamakawiwoʻole's Somewhere Over the Rainbow is the most beautiful ukulele recording ever made. Three syllables of divine wrestling, national identity, and Hawaiian rainbows.
Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisra'el, he who wrestles with God)→English Israel
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Hebrew roots
Israel comes from the Hebrew Yisra'el, meaning he who wrestles with God. In Genesis 32:28, Jacob wrestles with a divine being all night and is renamed Israel — he becomes the patriarch of the twelve tribes. The modern State of Israel was established in 1948. Israel Kamakawiwoʻole (1959–1997) recorded Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World on ukulele — one of the most beloved recordings in music history.
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First recorded
Earliest known use: Biblical — Genesis 32:28, where God renames Jacob as Israel after the wrestling.
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Today
Israel remains a beloved choice, ranking #239 in the US. 71,727 babies have been named Israel since 1880.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names, Genesis 32:28, SSA data
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How popular is Israel?
2007peak year
Today, Israel ranks around #239 in the United States, with roughly 1,598 new arrivals per year. But it wasn't always this way. At its peak in 2007, 1,936 babies were given the name (ranked #204 nationally). Its strongest stretch was the 2000s. Israel's usage has held roughly steady recently. In all, around 71,727 babies have been registered as Israel since 1880.
Year-by-year registrations1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
1,936 Babies named in peak year (ranked #204)
1,598Avg. per year (last decade)
15,980Total registrations last 10 years
71,727All-time total (since 1880)
Popularity in the US today (rank #239)Very popular
Israel's Life Path 1 is the leader's number — wrestling his way to leadership. People named Israel tend to be tenacious, spiritual, and unwilling to let go until they receive their blessing.
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Won't let go until blessed
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Tenacious wrestler
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Nation-founding spirit
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Rainbow after the storm
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God-level persistence
I9
S1
R9
A1
E5
L3
Sum: 28 → Life path 1
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Personality of Israel
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Independent & bold
These individuals chart their own course. They lead, they don't follow.
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Ambitious drive
Quiet determination sits behind everything they do.
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Original ideas
Their minds work differently — seeing angles others walk past.
Every name has a homeland. Discover strong boy names rooted in cultures from around the world — each with full meanings, origin stories and pronunciation.