Israel () is a masculine given name of

Hebrew Hebrew (; ; ) is a Northwest Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Historically, it is one of the spoken languages of the Israelites and their longest-surviving descendants, the Jews and Samaritans. It was largely preserved ...

origin. According to the

Book of Genesis The Book of Genesis (from Greek ; Hebrew: בְּרֵאשִׁית ''Bəreʾšīt'', "In hebeginning") is the first book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament. Its Hebrew name is the same as its first word, ( "In the beginning") ...

Jacob Jacob (; ; ar, يَعْقُوب, Yaʿqūb; gr, Ἰακώβ, Iakṓb), later given the name Israel, is regarded as a patriarch of the Israelites and is an important figure in Abrahamic religions, such as Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. J ...

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. Varian ...

(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 The King James Version (KJV), also the King James Bible (KJB) and the Authorized Version, is an English translation of the Christian Bible for the Church of England, which was commissioned in 1604 and published in 1611, by sponsorship of K ...

: "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 The Merneptah Stele, also known as the Israel Stele or the Victory Stele of Merneptah, is an inscription by Merneptah, a pharaoh in ancient Egypt who reigned from 1213–1203 BCE. Discovered by Flinders Petrie at Thebes in 1896, it is now hous ...

as 𓇌𓊃𓏤𓏤𓂋𓇋𓄿𓂋𓏤 (ysrỉꜣr), referring to a foreign group of people, probably the

Israelites The Israelites (; , , ) were a group of Semitic-speaking tribes in the ancient Near East who, during the Iron Age, inhabited a part of Canaan. The earliest recorded evidence of a people by the name of Israel appears in the Merneptah Stele o ...

. In Jewish and Christian texts from the Greco-Egyptian area during

Second Temple Judaism Second Temple Judaism refers to the Jewish religion as it developed during the Second Temple period, which began with the construction of the Second Temple around 516 BCE and ended with the Roman siege of Jerusalem in 70 CE. The Second Temple pe ...

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

, 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, 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 Yaqub ibn Ishaq ibn Ibrahim (Arabic: يَعْقُوب ابْنُ إِسْحَٰق ابْنُ إِبْرَاهِيم, literally: "''Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham''" ar, يَعْقُوب , translit=Yaqub; also later ''Israil'', Arabic: إ ...

* Israel (Bishop of Caucasian Albania), 7th century CE *

Israel (Nestorian patriarch) Israel was Patriarch of the Church of the East in 961. Sources Brief accounts of Israel's short patriarchate are given in the ''Ecclesiastical Chronicle'' of the Jacobite writer Bar Hebraeus (''floruit'' 1280) and in the ecclesiastical histories ...

, Patriarch of the Church of the East in 961 *

Israel Adesanya Israel Mobolaji Odunayo Oluwafemi Temitayo Owolabi Adesanya (born 22 July 1989) is a New Zealand professional mixed martial artist, kickboxer, and former boxer with multiple championships in all three disciplines. As a mixed martial artist, h ...

(born 1989), Nigerian professional mixed martial artist, kickboxer, and boxer. *

Israel Alter Israel Alter (also: ''Yisraʾel Alter'',See Integrated Authority File of German National Library born September 23, 1901 in Lemberg, died November 16, 1979, in New York City) was an Austrian-HungarianClaudia Maurer Zenck, Peter Petersen (ed.), S ...

(1901–1979), Jewish composer and last chief cantor in Hanover, Germany *

Israel Asper Israel Harold "Izzy" Asper (August 11, 1932– October 7, 2003) was a Canadian Tax Lawyer, tax lawyer and media magnate. He was the founder and owner of the now-defunct TV and media company CanWest Global Communications Corp and father to its for ...

(1932–2003), Canadian media magnate * Israel of Axum, Emperor of Ethiopia in the 6th century CE *

Israel Baker Israel Baker (February 11, 1919 – December 25, 2011) was an American violinist and concertmaster. Through a long and varied career he played with many of the greatest figures in the worlds of classical music, jazz and pop. He appeared on hund ...

(1919–2011), American violinist and concertmaster * Israel Baline (1888–1989), the birth name of American composer Irving Berlin *

Yisroel Belsky Chaim Yisroel HaLevi Belsky (August 22, 1938 – January 28, 2016) was an American rabbi and posek of Orthodox and Haredi Judaism. He was one of the roshei yeshiva (deans) at Yeshiva Torah Vodaas, and rabbi of the summer camp network run by Agudat ...

(1938–2016), American rosh yeshiva and posek *

Israel Bissell Israel Bissell (1752 – October 24, 1823) was a patriot post rider in Massachusetts who brought news to American colonists of the British attack on Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775. He reportedly rode for four days and six hours, ...

(1752–1823), American post rider and colonial militia officer *

Yisrael Campbell Yisrael Campbell (born Christopher Campbell) is a Philadelphia-born Israeli comedian. Campbell, who is of Irish and Italian descent, grew up Catholic in a Philadelphia suburb. One of his aunts is a Catholic nun. A typical Campbell joke is that hi ...

, 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 perf ...

(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 Israel ben Eliezer (1698 – 22 May 1760), known as the Baal Shem Tov ( he, בעל שם טוב, ) or as the Besht, was a Jewish mystic and healer who is regarded as the founder of Hasidic Judaism. "Besht" is the acronym for Baal Shem Tov, which ...

(1698–1760), Jewish mystical rabbi * Israel Elimelech (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 Israel Friedman of Ruzhyn ( he, ישראל פרידמן מרוז'ין) (5 October 1796 – 9 October 1850Assaf, ''The Regal Way'', p. 170.), also called Israel Ruzhin, was a Hasidic ''rebbe'' in 19th-century Ukraine and Austria. Known as ''Der H ...

(1796–1850), Hasidic rebbe * Israel Gelfand (1913–2009), Russian mathematician *

Israil Gurung Israil Gurung (born 2 April 1989) is an Indian Coach (sport)#Association football, football coach and former Football player, player. He is currently the assistant coach of I-League club Delhi FC, Delhi. Career Gurung joined up with Portuguese ...

, Indian footballer * Israel Gigato (born 1987), Spanish football player * Israel the Grammarian, 10th-century European scholar *

Israel Hands Israel Hands, also known as Basilica Hands, was an 18th-century pirate best known for being second in command to Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard. His name serves as the basis for the name of the villainous sidekick in Robert Louis Steven ...

, 18th-century pirate *

Yisroel Hopstein Yisroel Hopstein (1737–1814), also known as the Maggid of Kozhnitz, was the founder of Kozhnitz Hasidism, and a noted ''hasidic'' leader in Poland during the late 18th and early 19th century. He was a student of both the Magid/Dov Ber of Meze ...

(1737–1814), Maggid of Kozhnitz * Israel Houghton (born 1971), American singer and Christian worship leader *

Israel Idonije Israel Idonije (born November 17, 1980) is a retired Nigerian-Canadian defensive end in the National Football League and actor. Idonije was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Cleveland Browns out of the University of Manitoba. A draft pi ...

(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 Israel Jacobson (17 October 1768, Halberstadt – 14 September 1828, Berlin) was a German-Jewish philanthropist and communal organiser. Jacobson pioneered political, educational and religious reforms in the early days of Jewish emancipation, a ...

(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 Israel or Yisrael Mendel Kaplan (April 14, 1913 – April 4, 1985), known as "Reb Mendel" was an American Orthodox Jewish rabbi and author. He was best known as a teacher in the Hebrew Theological College of Chicago and the Talmudical Yeshiva o ...

(1913–1985), teacher at Chicago's Hebrew Theological College * Israel Katz (born 1955), Israeli politician *

Yisrael Katz Yisrael Katz ( he, ישראל כץ, 6 December 1927 – 29 October 2010) was an Israeli scholar, civil servant and politician who served as Minister of Labor and Social Affairs. He was one of the most influential people in Israel in the creation ...

(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 Israel Jacob Kligler (24 April 1888 – 23 September 1944) was a microbiologist. A Zionist and humanist, he was born in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, educated in the United States and spent most of his career in Mandatory Palestine, but died b ...

(1888–1944), Austo-Hungarian microbiologist, professor, and Zionist *

Israel of Krems Israel of Krems was an Austrian rabbi who flourished in the 14th and 15th centuries. He was the great-grandfather of Israel ben Petahiah Isserlein, who quotes him in his commentary on Rashi to the Pentateuch, section "Wayeḥi." Israel was the aut ...

, 14th-/15th-century Austrian rabbi *

Yisrael Kristal Yisrael Kristal (or Israel Kristal; born Izrael Icek Kryształ; he, ישראל קרישטל; 15 September 1903 – 11 August 2017) was a Polish-Israeli supercentenarian recognized in 2014 as the oldest living Holocaust survivor. After the dea ...

(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 Israel Lewy (7 January 1841 – 8 September 1917) was a German-Jewish scholar. Biography He was educated at the Jewish Theological Seminary and the University in Breslau. In 1874 he was appointed docent at the Lehranstalt für die Wissenschaft ...

(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 Brazil ...

(born 1960), Brazilian basketball player * Mohammad Israil Mansuri, Indian politician * Israel Mireles (born c.1983), Mexican convicted murderer *

Israel Mukuamu Israel Mukuamu (; born November 28, 1999) is an American football safety for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Cowboys in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He played college football at South C ...

(born 1999), American football player *

Israel Ochoa Israel Antonio Ochoa Plazas (born 26 August 1964) is a Colombian former professional racing cyclist. He was nicknamed ''El Rápido'' during his career. Major results ;1991 : 1st Stage 6 Clásico RCN ;1992 : 1st Stage 6 Vuelta al Táchira ;1993 ...

(born 1964), Colombian cyclist * Yisroel Ber Odesser (1888–1994), Breslov rabbi * Israel Ori (1658–1711), Armenian diplomat *

Israel Pellew Admiral Sir Israel Pellew, KCB, RN (25 August 1758 – 19 July 1832), was an English naval officer who spent his career under the shadow of his more successful older brother Edward Pellew. Early naval service Pellew first went to sea aboard t ...

(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 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 ...

(born 1973), American football player * Israel Regardie (1907–1985), British occultist *

Israel B. Richardson Israel Bush Richardson (December 26, 1815 – November 3, 1862) was a United States Army officer during the Mexican–American War and American Civil War, where he was a major general in the Union Army. Nicknamed "Fighting Dick" for his prowess on ...

(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 Ysrael Abraham Seinuk (December 21, 1931 – September 14, 2010) was an engineer who designed the structure for many landmark skyscrapers in New York and around the world. He also taught structural engineering at New York's Cooper Union and w ...

(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 Israel Vázquez Castañeda (born December 25, 1977) is a Mexican former professional boxer who competed from 1995 to 2010. He is a three-time super bantamweight world champion, having held the IBF title from 2004 to 2005; and the WBC, ''The R ...

(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 Herlyn Ysrael Zúñiga Yáñez (born August 27, 1976) is a Peruvian former footballer who has played as a striker for Peru and for clubs including Coventry City, Estudiantes and Melgar. Since retirement, Zúñiga has reverted to dentistry in ...

(born 1976), Peruvian footballer

Surname

Al Israel Al Israel (1935/1936 – March 16, 2011) was an American film and TV actor who is best known for his role as the chainsaw-wielding Colombian drug dealer "Hector the Toad" in the 1983 film '' Scarface''. He also appeared alongside Al Pacino in '' ...

(1936-2011), American actor *

Edward Israel Edward Israel (July 1, 1859 – May 27, 1884) was an astronomer and Polar explorer. Early years Israel was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan on July 1, 1859. He was the son of Mannes and Tillie Israel, the first Jews to settle in Kalamazoo. After gradu ...

(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 Leonore Carol "Lee" Israel (December 3, 1939 – December 24, 2014) was an American author known for committing literary forgery. Her 2008 confessional autobiography ''Can You Ever Forgive Me?'' was adapted into the 2018 film of the same name s ...

(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 Mel Allen (born Melvin Allen Israel; February 14, 1913 – June 16, 1996) was an American sportscaster, best known for his long tenure as the primary play-by-play announcer for the New York Yankees. During the peak of his career in the 1940s, ...

(1913–1996), American sportscaster *

Menasseh Ben Israel Manoel Dias Soeiro (1604 – 20 November 1657), better known by his Hebrew name Menasseh ben Israel (), also known as Menasheh ben Yossef ben Yisrael, also known with the Hebrew acronym, MB"Y or MBI, was a Portuguese rabbi, kabbalist, writ ...

(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 *

Samuel Israel III Samuel Israel III (born July 20, 1959) is an American fraudster and former hedge fund manager for the Bayou Hedge Fund Group, which he founded in 1996. In 2008, Israel was sentenced to 20 years in prison and ordered to forfeit $300 million for ...

(born 1959), American convicted felon and former hedge fund manager *

Scott Israel Scott Israel is an American law enforcement officer, and the Police Chief of the city of Opa-locka, Florida. Israel was chief of police in North Bay Village, Florida, from 2004 to 2008, during which time he was named Police Chief of the Year in ...

(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 significan ...

(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