Fun Facts About the Name Esmael
- 94 babies named Esmael: U.S. records list 94 babies given the name Esmael from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Esmael Mean?
Esmael is a variant of the biblical name Ismael (also spelled Ishmael), which comes from Hebrew Yishmaʿel (יִשְׁמָעֵאל). The Hebrew name is built from the verb shamaʿ, "to hear," and El, "God." Its literal sense is "God hears" or "May God hear." The narrative in Genesis gives a related explanation: the name is a sign that God heard Hagar's suffering. That biblical explanation is a customary interpretation of the name, not a separate root. The Arabic form Ismāʿīl (إسماعيل) is the same name and is used in Islamic tradition. Esmael is an alternative spelling of Ismael, not a name from a different source.
Esmael Name History & Origins
The name behind Esmael is ancient. In the Hebrew Bible, Yishmaʿel is the son of Abraham and Hagar; his story appears in Genesis 16 and 21. The Greek Septuagint rendered the name as Ismaēl, and the Latin Bible used Ismahel and Ismael. From Latin, the name passed into the Romance languages. Standard Spanish and Portuguese both use Ismael; Esmael is a variant spelling found especially in Portuguese, where the initial vowel is written E rather than I. It has no separate origin from Ismael.
In Arabic, the same name is Ismāʿīl, the form used in the Quran and in Islamic tradition for the son of Ibrahim. Arabic and Islamic usage produced spellings such as Ismail and Esmail, which are common in the Middle East, South Asia, and other Muslim communities. Esmael is closer to the Romance-language Ismael than to the Arabic Ismāʿīl, though both lines descend from the same Hebrew name.
How Popular is the Name Esmael?
Esmael has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2025. Its best rank was #3,270 in 1937.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #7,838 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2024 | #7,899 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2023 | #11,240 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2022 | #10,128 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2021 | #11,168 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2020 | #12,620 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2019 | #10,062 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2018 | #12,739 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2014 | #12,643 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2009 | #10,186 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1985 | #6,871 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1982 | #6,668 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1974 | #5,461 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1937 | #3,270 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1931 | #3,953 | 5 | 0.0005% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore More Lists with Name Esmael
Most Popular Boy Names That Start with E
How the Name Esmael Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are fine when in harmony but changeable when in discord, because many of your best qualities are then reversed. You are entertaining but may be impulsive. Freedom is a necessity, and you find it difficult to settle down. Your versatility results in many changes, and often brings travel. Your fine intellect is capable of high honors if applied seriously. You are capable of inspired thinking applied to material things. You can be restless, changeable, and very sexy. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You are always looking for a chance to do your own thing, to be your own person, and to have things done your own way.
✦ Esmael's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Esmael's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.