Israel () is a masculine given name of
Hebrew origin. According to the
Book of Genesis,
Jacob was given the name ''Israel'' after he
wrestled with the angel ( and 35:10). The given name is already attested in
Eblaite
Eblaite (, also known as Eblan ISO 639-3), or Palaeo-Syrian, is an extinct East Semitic language used during the 3rd millennium BC by the populations of Northern Syria. It was named after the ancient city of Ebla, in modern western Syria. Varia ...
(𒅖𒊏𒅋, ''išrail'') and
Ugaritic (𐎊𐎌𐎗𐎛𐎍, ''yšrʾil''). Commentators differ on the original literal interpretation. The text of Genesis etymologizes the name with the root ''śarah'' "to rule, contend, have power, prevail over": (
KJV: "a prince hast thou power with God"), but modern suggestions read the ''el'' as the subject, for a translation of "
El/God rules/judges/struggles", "El fights/struggles".
The name appears on the
Merneptah Stele as 𓇌𓊃𓏤𓏤𓂋𓇋𓄿𓂋𓏤 (ysrỉꜣr), referring to a foreign group of people, probably the
Israelites.
In Jewish and Christian texts from the Greco-Egyptian area during
Second Temple Judaism and beyond the name was understood to mean "a man seeing God" from the ''ʾyš'' (man) ''rʾh'' (to see) ''ʾel'' (God).
Jacob's descendants came to be known as the
Israelites, eventually forming the
twelve tribes of Israel
The Twelve Tribes of Israel ( he, שִׁבְטֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל, translit=Šīḇṭēy Yīsrāʾēl, lit=Tribes of Israel) are, according to Hebrew scriptures, the descendants of the biblical patriarch Jacob, also known as Israel, throu ...
and ultimately the
kingdom of Israel
The Kingdom of Israel may refer to any of the historical kingdoms of ancient Israel, including:
Fully independent (c. 564 years)
* Kingdom of Israel (united monarchy) (1047–931 BCE), the legendary kingdom established by the Israelites and uniti ...
, whence came the name of modern-day
State of Israel
Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...
.
Given name
*Isra'il or
Jacob in Islam
*
Israel (Bishop of Caucasian Albania), 7th century CE
*
Israel (Nestorian patriarch), Patriarch of the Church of the East in 961
*
Israel Adesanya (born 1989), Nigerian professional mixed martial artist, kickboxer, and boxer.
*
Israel Alter (1901–1979), Jewish composer and last chief cantor in Hanover, Germany
*
Israel Asper (1932–2003), Canadian media magnate
*
Israel of Axum, Emperor of Ethiopia in the 6th century CE
*
Israel Baker (1919–2011), American violinist and concertmaster
* Israel Baline (1888–1989), the birth name of American composer
Irving Berlin
*
Yisroel Belsky (1938–2016), American rosh yeshiva and posek
*
Israel Bissell (1752–1823), American post rider and colonial militia officer
*
Yisrael Campbell, American-born Israeli comedian
*
Israel Cruz
Israel Cruz is an Australian singer-songwriter and record producer. Cruz was born in Quezon City, Philippines and at the age of 3 moved to Melbourne, Australia with his family. He lives in Sydney, Australia with friends and has written and per ...
(born 1983), Australian singer
*
Israel Dagg
Israel Jamahl Akuhata Dagg (born 6 June 1988) is a former New Zealand rugby union player who played for the Crusaders in Super Rugby. He has also played for the New Zealand Sevens team, and represents Hawkes Bay in the ITM Cup.
Dagg played in ...
(born 1988), New Zealand rugby player
*
Israel ben Eliezer (1698–1760), Jewish mystical rabbi
*
Israel Elimelech
Israel Elimelech (ישראל אלימלך; born June 22, 1960) is an Israeli former basketball player. He played the point guard position. He was named to the 1992 Israeli Basketball Premier League Quintet.
Biography
Elimelech was born in Holon, ...
(born 1960), Israeli basketball player
*
Israel Englander
Israel “Izzy” Englander (born 1948) is an American investor, hedge fund manager, and philanthropist. In 1989, he founded his hedge fund, Millennium Management, with Ronald Shear. The fund was started with million, and as of 2019 had billio ...
(born 1948), American billionaire hedge fund manager
*
Israel Lewis Feinberg
Israel Lewis Feinberg, M.D. (1872 – April 13, 1941) was a physician and the Coroner of New York County, New York from 1910 to 1918, where he served as president of the board of coroners.
Biography
He was born in 1872 to Minnie (1834–?) in Ne ...
(1872–1941), American physician and coroner
*
Israel Finkelstein
Israel Finkelstein ( he, ישראל פינקלשטיין, born March 29, 1949) is an Israeli archaeologist, professor emeritus at Tel Aviv University and the head of the School of Archaeology and Maritime Cultures at the University of Haifa. Fin ...
(born 1949), Israeli archaeologist
*
Israel Folau (born 1989), Australian rugby player
*
Yisrael Friedman of Ruzhin (1796–1850), Hasidic rebbe
*
Israel Gelfand (1913–2009), Russian mathematician
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Israil Gurung, Indian footballer
*
Israel Gigato (born 1987), Spanish football player
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Israel the Grammarian, 10th-century European scholar
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Israel Hands, 18th-century pirate
*
Yisroel Hopstein (1737–1814), Maggid of Kozhnitz
*
Israel Houghton (born 1971), American singer and Christian worship leader
*
Israel Idonije (born 1980), Nigeria-born Canadian player of American football
*
Israel Jacob (1729–1803), Prussian banker and philanthropist
*
Israel Jacobs
Israel Jacobs (June 9, 1726' December 10, 1796) was a colonial Pennsylvania Legislator and United States House of Representatives, United States Representative from Pennsylvania's 3rd congressional district.
Biography
Jaobs was born near the P ...
(1726–c. 1796), British-American colonial legislator
*
Israel Jacobson (1768–1828), German philanthropist and communal organiser
*Israel Joffe, American writer, journalist and United States government official
*
Yisrael Meir Kagan (1838–1933), rabbi and posek known as the Chofetz Chaim
*
Israel Kamakawiwoʻole (1959–1997), Hawaiian singer and spiritual leader
*
Yisrael Mendel Kaplan (1913–1985), teacher at Chicago's Hebrew Theological College
*
Israel Katz (born 1955), Israeli politician
*
Yisrael Katz (1927–2010), Israeli scholar and civil servant
*
Israel Keyes
Israel Keyes (January 7, 1978 – December 2, 2012) was an American serial killer, bank robber, burglar, arsonist, kidnapper and sex offender who murdered at least three victims and committed dozens of felonies including armed robbery, arson, ...
(1978–2012), American serial killer, rapist, bank robber, burglar, and arsonist
*
Israel Kirzner (born 1930), American economist
*
Israel Jacob Kligler (1888–1944), Austo-Hungarian microbiologist, professor, and Zionist
*
Israel of Krems, 14th-/15th-century Austrian rabbi
*
Yisrael Kristal (1903–2017), Polish-Israeli supercentenarian
*
Israel "Izzy" Lang, American football running back
*
Yisrael Meir Lau (born 1937), former Chief Rabbi of Israel
*
Israel Levitan
Israel Levitan (June 13, 1912 – May 17, 1982) was an American abstract expressionist sculptor, born in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Known as a sculptor, he also produced paintings, graphics and fine art works on paper.
The art critics of ''AR ...
(1912–1982), American sculptor and painter
*
Israel Lewy (1841–1917), German scholar of Judaic texts
*
Israel Lovy
Israel Lovy (31 August 1773 – 7 January 1832), also known as Israel Glogauer and Israel Fürth, was a ''Hazzan, ḥazzan'' and composer.
Biography
Israel Lovy was born in Schottland, near Gdańsk, Danzig, into a lineage of ''ḥazzanim'' from ...
(1773–1832), European ḥazzan and composer
*
Israel Machado
Israel Machado Campelo Andrade (born January 17, 1960 in Salvador), commonly known as Israel Andrade or simply Israel, is a former professional basketball player from Brazil.
Professional career
During his pro club career, Andrade won 4 Braz ...
(born 1960), Brazilian basketball player
*
Mohammad Israil Mansuri, Indian politician
*
Israel Mireles (born c.1983), Mexican convicted murderer
*
Israel Mukuamu (born 1999), American football player
*
Israel Ochoa (born 1964), Colombian cyclist
*
Yisroel Ber Odesser (1888–1994), Breslov rabbi
*
Israel Ori (1658–1711), Armenian diplomat
*
Israel Pellew (1758–1832), British admiral
*
Israel Pickens (1780–1827), American lawyer and politician
*
Israel Pliner (1896–1939), Soviet secret police functionary
*
Yisroel Avrohom Portugal (1923–2019), Skulener Rebbe
*
Israel Putnam (1718–1790), American general
*
Israel Raybon (born 1973), American football player
*
Israel Regardie (1907–1985), British occultist
*
Israel B. Richardson (1815–1862), American general
*
Israel Rivera, American soldier witness to Abu Grahib conditions
*
Israel Ruiz Jr.
Israel Ruiz Jr. (born July 10, 1943) is an American attorney and politician from New York who served as a member of the New York State Senate and New York City Council.
Early life and education
He was born on July 10, 1943, in Cabo Rojo, Puerto ...
(born 1943), New York politician
*
Ysrael Seinuk (1931–2010), Cuban structural engineer
*
Israel Shahak (1933–2001), Israeli author
*
Israel Shamir
Israel Shamir (Russian: Исраэль Шамир, ; born 1947 or 1948), also known by the names Robert David, Vassili Krasevsky, Jöran Jermas and Adam Ermash, is a Swedish writer and journalist, known for promoting antisemitism The book was rep ...
(born 1947), Swedish antisemitic writer
*
Israel Sheinfeld
Israel Sheinfeld (ישראל שיינפלד; born July 1, 1976) is an Israeli former basketball player. He played the power forward and center positions. Sheinfeld played in the Israeli Basketball Premier League, and for the Israeli national baske ...
(born 1976), Israeli basketball player
*
Israel Vázquez (born 1977), Mexican boxer
*
Israel Wachser
Israel Wachser (; 1892 – 24 May 1919) was a Russian writer of Yiddish and Hebrew short stories and children's literature.
Biography
Wachser was born to Aryeh Yehuda-Leib ha-Kohen in , Russian Empire. He was educated by his father, who served a ...
(1892–1919), Russian writer
*
Yisroel Dovid Weiss
Yisroel Dovid Weiss ( he, ישראל דוד ווייס; born 1956) is an American Haredi Jew, activist, and spokesman for a minority branch of small fringe group Neturei Karta, a Haredi anti-Zionist group. Residing in Monsey, New York, he bel ...
(born 1956), Neturei Karta activist
*
Israel Zilber
Israel Zilber (; born June 25, 1933 in Riga) is a chess player who won the Latvian Chess Championship in 1958.
Latvia chess player
Zilber was born in Riga, Latvia. He achieved excellent results during the period 1950 to 1973 when he lived in So ...
(1933 – after 1980) Latvian-Soviet chess player
*
Ysrael Zúñiga (born 1976), Peruvian footballer
Surname
*
Al Israel (1936-2011), American actor
*
Edward Israel (1859–1884), American astronomer and polar explorer
*
Gerli Israel
Gerli Israel (born 7 February 1995) is an Estonian footballer who plays as a defender for the Estonia national team.
International career
Israel made her debut for the Estonia national team on 27 February 2019, as a substitute for Mari-Liis L ...
(born 1995), Estonian footballer
*
Guni Israeli
Guni Israeli ( he, גוני יזרעאלי; born 18 November 1984) is an Israeli professional basketball player who last played for Hapoel Galil Elyon of the Israeli National League. In 2007, he was the Israeli Premier League Assists Leader.
...
(born 1984), Israeli basketball player
*
Jonathan Israel (born 1946), British historian
*
Lee Israel (1939–2014), American author known for committing literary forgery
*
Märt Israel
Märt Israel (born 23 September 1983 in Karksi-Nuia) is a male discus thrower from Estonia. His personal best is 66.98, achieved in May 2011 in Chula Vista (his previous best was 66.56 metres, achieved in September 2007 in Helsingborg
Helsing ...
(born 1983), Estonian discus thrower
* Melvin Israel, later known as
Mel Allen (1913–1996), American sportscaster
*
Menasseh Ben Israel (1604–1657), Portuguese rabbi and scholar
*
Rinus Israël (born 1942), Dutch football player and manager
*
Robert Decatur Israel (1826-1908), San Diego pioneer, keeper of the Old Point Loma lighthouse
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Samuel Israel III (born 1959), American convicted felon and former hedge fund manager
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Scott Israel (born 1956/57), American Police Chief of Opa-locka, former Sheriff of Broward County
*
Steve Israel (born 1958), American politician
*
Steve Israel (American football)
Steven Douglas Israel (born March 16, 1969) is a former American football cornerback.
Career
Israel grew up in Lawnside, New Jersey and played high school football at Haddon Heights High School.[Syed Shah Israil
Syed Shah Isra'il ( bn, সৈয়দ শাহ ইসরাইল, fa, ), also known as Shah Bondegi ( bn, শাহ বন্দেগী, fa, ; lit. ''King of Worship''), was a 16th-century Persian language writer from Bengal. He is celeb ...]
, 16th-century writer of Bengal
*
Wilfrid Israel
Wilfrid Berthold Jacob Israel (11 July 1899 – 1 June 1943) was an Anglo-German businessman and philanthropist, born into a wealthy Anglo-German Jewish family, who was active in the rescue of Jews from Nazi Germany, and who played a significa ...
(1899–1943), Anglo-German businessman and philanthropist
*
Yuri Izrael
Yuri Antonievich Izrael (russian: Юрий Антониевич Израэль; 15 May 1930, Tashkent – 23 January 2014, Moscow) was a Soviet and Russian meteorologist. He served as the vice-chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate ...
(1930–2014), Russian scientist and vice-chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Israel (Name)
Surnames
Jewish surnames
Given names
Masculine given names
Hebrew masculine given names
English masculine given names
Country name etymology
Theophoric names