UK boy's name
Isreal
The name Israel is of Hebrew origin meaning "struggles with God".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Isreal is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Isreal popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 5 births.
This profile covers 27 England and Wales registrations across 7 recorded years from 2007 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 27 living people in the UK are called Isreal. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Isreal ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2007, when 5 boys were registered as Isreal.
- • About 27 living people in the UK are estimated to have Isreal as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5119
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2007
5 births
Estimated living
27
2026
Meaning
What does Isreal mean?
The given name Isreal has its origins in the Hebrew language and culture, dating back to ancient times. It is derived from the Hebrew name Yisrael, which means "he who struggles with God" or "one who strives with God." The name is rooted in the biblical story of Jacob, who wrestled with an angel of God and was given the name Israel.
The name Isreal appears prominently in various religious texts and historical records. In the Hebrew Bible, also known as the Old Testament, the name Israel is used to refer to the patriarch Jacob, as well as the nation and land of the Israelites. The name plays a significant role in the narratives of the Exodus, the conquest of Canaan, and the establishment of the ancient Israelite kingdoms.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Isreal can be found in the Book of Genesis, where Jacob is given the name after his struggle with the angel. This event is often interpreted as a symbolic representation of the spiritual journey and struggles that people face in their relationship with the divine.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Isreal. One of the most famous is Isreal ben Eliezer (c. 1700-1760), also known as the Baal Shem Tov, who was a Jewish mystic and the founder of the Hasidic movement in Eastern Europe. Another prominent figure is Isreal Zangwill (1864-1926), a British writer and activist who was a vocal advocate for the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine.
In the realm of religious leadership, Isreal Meir Kagan (1838-1933), also known as the Chofetz Chaim, was a renowned Jewish rabbi and scholar who authored numerous works on Jewish law and ethics. Isreal Friedman (1876-1957), better known as the Rizhiner Rebbe, was a influential Hasidic leader and spiritual teacher in Poland and Ukraine.
Isreal Regardie (1907-1985) was a notable occultist and author who played a significant role in the revival of interest in Western ceremonial magic and the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn in the 20th century.
It's worth noting that while the name Isreal has its roots in Hebrew and Jewish tradition, it has been adopted and used in various cultures and religions throughout history, often with slightly different spellings or variations.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Isreal over time
The chart below shows babies named Isreal registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2007 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Isreal, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Isreal by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Isreal was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4954 | 6 | 2 |
| 2010s | #3991 | 12 | 3 |
| 2000s | #3420 | 9 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Isreal
- Isaac 49,129
- Ibrahim 14,115
- Ismail 4,679
- Isaiah 4,629
- Idris 3,810
- Ivan 3,146
- Isa 2,943
- Ian 2,805
- Ilyas 2,552
- Ieuan 2,515
- Ibraheem 2,384
- Ioan 2,295
FAQ
Isreal: questions and answers
How popular is the name Isreal in the UK right now?
In 2024, Isreal was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Isreal most popular?
The peak year on record was 2007, with 5 babies registered as Isreal in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Isreal?
The name Israel is of Hebrew origin meaning "struggles with God".
How many people are called Isreal in the UK?
A total of 27 babies have been registered as Isreal across the 7 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.