Yisrael

Yisrael - A very unique male name

Yisrael appeared on the charts for the first time in 1976 on position #2268. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Yisrael and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Yisrael? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Yisrael. The baby boy name Yisrael was given to 46 baby boys in 2025, ranking #1778 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 31,876 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Yisrael peaked in popularity 2 years ago in 2024 on position 1656.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Yisrael, 1-5?

Yisrael is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Yisrael is currently topping the baby name charts in New Jersey at position #468 - and is the least popular in Florida at position #2,090.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Yisrael is where you live.

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Yisrael origin and meaning

Hebrew

The Hebrew form of Israel — traditionally understood as 'he strives / struggles with God,' from the Genesis story of Jacob wrestling

Yisrael is the transliterated Hebrew form of the biblical name Israel, Jacob's God-given name and the name of the nation descended from him. It has been used in American Jewish families since 1976, reaching its peak in 2024. The spelling keeps the Hebrew pronunciation visible in a way 'Israel' does not.

Attested etymology

Yisrael is a 7 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Yisrael, pop culture references for the name Yisrael and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Yisrael

We've found the following names that sound similar to Yisrael, sorted by popularity.

Yisroel /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Yisrael

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Yisrael a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Yisrael?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

yis-rah-EL · /jisrɑˈɛl/
The name is spoken with three syllables; the syllable table lists two, which appears to be an error in the source data.

Around the world

• Israel (English) — The standard English biblical form of the same name.

Spellings and nicknames

• Israel — The standard English spelling; a separate established name.

Famous bearers

None yet — no bearer for this name is documented well enough for us to list, so we show none rather than pad the list.

Style

BiblicalInternational

Why parents choose it

Yisrael is a meaningful, heritage-forward choice for Jewish families who want the Hebrew form itself, not the anglicised one. It is at its highest use yet.

Worth knowing

• The biblical patriarch is known in English as Israel/Jacob, so that figure is not listed as a bearer for this spelling; expect the Israel spelling to be assumed.