Ismail (name)


Ismail is an Arabic given name. It corresponds to the English name Ishmael.

Etymology and meaning

The literal translation of the name Ismail is "heard by God" and according to Abrahamic tradition, it refers to the yearning of Ibrahim and his wife, Sarah, to have a child. Ismail's mother, however, was not Sarah, but Hagar, Sarah's maidservant, who Sarah gave to Ibrahim 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, but not Judaism or Christianity, Ismail's mother, Hagar was also a full wife of the Prophet Abraham.

Given name