Gender Masculine
Scripts יִשְׂרָאֵל (Hebrew) Pron. /ˈɪz.ɹeɪ.əl/ (English) /ˈɪz.ɹi.əl/ (English) /iz.ra.ˈel/ (Spanish) [key ·simplify]
Meaning & History
From the Hebrew name יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisraʾel) meaning "God contends", from the roots שָׂרָה (sara) meaning "to contend, to fight" and אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God" [2] [3] [4] . In the Old Testament, Israel (who was formerly named Jacob; see Genesis 32:28) wrestles with an angel. The ancient and modern states of Israel took their names from him.
Related Names
Popularity
People think this name is
classic mature devious strong strange
Name Days
Sweden: December 20
Images
Jacob wrestling the angel, in a detail from a fresco by Eugène Delacroix (1861)Jacob wrestling the angel, in a detail from a fresco by Eugène Delacroix (1861)
Sources & References
- Strong, James. The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, entry g2474, available from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=g2474.
- Strong, James. The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, entry h3478, available from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=h3478.
- Strong, James. The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, entry h8280, available from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=h8280.
- Strong, James. The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, entry h410, available from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=h410.
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Entry updated May 26, 2026