Israel

Gender Masculine
Usage Jewish, English, Spanish, Biblical, Biblical Greek
Scripts יִשְׂרָאֵל(Hebrew) Ἰσραήλ(Ancient Greek)
Pronounced Pron. IZ-ray-əl(English) IZ-ree-əl(English) eez-ra-EHL(Spanish)  [key·IPA]

Meaning & History

From the Hebrew name יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisra'el) meaning "God contends", from the roots שָׂרָה (sarah) meaning "to contend, to fight" and אֵל ('el) meaning "God". In the Old Testament, Israel (who was formerly named Jacob; see Genesis 32:28) wrestles with an angel. The ancient and modern states of Israel took their names from him.

Related Names

VariantsIser, Issur, Yisroel(Yiddish)
DiminutivesIssy, Izzy(English)
Other Languages & CulturesYisra'el(Biblical Hebrew) Israhel(Biblical Latin) Yisrael(Hebrew)
User SubmissionsIsraèl, Israël

Popularity

People think this name is

classic   mature   formal   devious   strong   strange  

Name Days

Sweden: December 20

Images

Jacob wrestling the angel, in a detail from a fresco by Eugène Delacroix (1861)Jacob wrestling the angel, in a detail from a fresco by Eugène Delacroix (1861)

Categories

accordionists, actions, biblical places, chess Grandmasters, conflict, countries, Duggar family, ends in -el, gospel musicians, isograms, kingdoms, Morrissey songs, never out of the US top 1000, personifications, reggae musicians, Siouxsie and the Banshees songs, theophoric names, Tori Amos lyrics
Entry updated April 25, 2021