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Name Origin

Ishmael is a masculine given name of Hebrew origin. It means 'God will hear' or 'may God hear.' In the Bible, Ishmael is the son of Abraham and Hagar.

hebrewbiblicalreligiousmasculinemeaningfulgodly

Famous People

Ishmael Reed (1938-)

Writer, Poet, Essayist

  • National Book Award finalist
  • MacArthur Fellowship recipient
  • Known for his experimental and satirical works exploring race, identity, and American culture

Ishmael Beah (1980-)

Author, Human rights activist

  • Author of the bestselling memoir 'A Long Way Gone'
  • Advocate for child soldiers and war-affected youth
  • UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador