Ismail (Arabic: إسماعيل, romanizedʾIsmāʿīl) is an Arabic given name. It corresponds to the English name Ishmael.

Ismail
PronunciationArabic: [ˈʔɪsmaːˈʕiːl]
Egyptian Arabic: [esmæˈʕiːl]
Turkish: [ismaːˈil]
Persian: [esmɒːˈʔiːl]
Gendermale
Language(s)Arabic
Origin
Language(s)Arabic
MeaningHeard by God
Other names
Alternative spellingEsmail
Related namesHebrew ישמעאל “Ishmael”

Etymology and meaning

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The literal translation of the name Ismail is "heard by God" and according to Abrahamic tradition, it refers to the yearning of Abraham and his wife, Sarah, to have a child. Ismail's mother, however, was not Sarah, but Hagar, Sarah's maidservant, who Sarah gave to Abraham as a concubine because she was unable to have a child. Sarah later does give birth to a son, Isaac.

According to Genesis, the name is given by God as He heard the cries of Hagar who had been mistreated by Sarah after becoming pregnant and run away.

According to Islamic tradition, Ismail's mother, Hagar was also a full wife of the Prophet Abraham.

Given name

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Middle name

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Surname or patronymic

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See also

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