How old is someone named Ishmael?
The average Ishmael is 25 years old.
Half of all living Ishmaels are between 11 and 34.
When was Ishmael popular?
Great-grandmother name, or brand-new favorite? Both. Ishmael peaked around 1914, fell out of fashion, and is popular again today.
Popular names of 2017 · The most popular names of the 2010s →
Show the numbers by decade
| Born in | Babies born | Alive today |
|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 17 | 0 |
| 1910s | 296 | 0 |
| 1920s | 321 | 0 |
| 1930s | 223 | under 100 |
| 1940s | 146 | under 100 |
| 1950s | 164 | 110 |
| 1960s | 155 | 130 |
| 1970s | 372 | 330 |
| 1980s | 538 | 500 |
| 1990s | 1,233 | 1,200 |
| 2000s | 1,205 | 1,200 |
| 2010s | 1,355 | 1,300 |
| 2020s | 746 | 740 |
How many Ishmaels are still alive?
About 5,600 Ishmaels are alive in the US today. That's 83% of the roughly 6,800 babies named Ishmael since 1880.
Most Ishmaels ever born are still alive.
What generation is the name Ishmael?
About one in three living Ishmaels are in Gen Z, born between 1997 and 2012.
Is Ishmael an old name?
Not really. Ishmael is younger than 58 in 100 names on AgeByName.
Looking ahead: if babies keep getting the name at today's pace, the typical Ishmael will be 36 in 2056, so the name is aging slowly.
Is Ishmael a boy or girl name?
Almost entirely boys: over 99.9% of living Ishmaels are men.
Names the same age as Ishmael
NAME TWIN
Ishmael's name twin is Esteban. Of all 3,713 names on AgeByName, Esteban's age curve is the closest match to Ishmael's: 92% alike.
Think you can guess a Gary's age?
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Questions about the name Ishmael
How old is the average Ishmael?
The average Ishmael in the US is 25 years old. The median is 23, so half are older and half younger.
How many people are named Ishmael?
About 5,600 Ishmaels are alive in the US today, out of roughly 6,800 babies given the name since 1880.
When was the name Ishmael most popular?
In 2017, when about 160 baby boys were named Ishmael.
Is Ishmael a Gen Z name?
Partly. Gen Z are the largest group, about 35% of living Ishmaels, but the name spans several generations.
Estimates from Social Security Administration baby-name records (births 1880–2025) and SSA cohort life tables (2026 Trustees Report). Updated each spring. How we calculate this