Ezekiel
Say it: ih-ZEE-kee-ul/ɪˈziːkiəl/
BoyMeans god strengthens7 letters4 syllables
#198
in Ireland (2025)
#199 with spellings combined
24
babies in 2025
#199
best rank (2025)
101
babies since 2005
Up 416
10-year rank change
Ezekiel through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 24 | #199 |
| 2024 | 12 | #317 |
| 2023 | 11 | #333 |
| 2022 | 10 | #367 |
| 2021 | 8 | #400 |
| 2020 | 5 | #528 |
| 2019 | 4 | #616 |
| 2015 | 4 | #615 |
| 2014 | 4 | #609 |
| 2013 | 3 | #712 |
| 2012 | 4 | #616 |
| 2011 | 3 | #730 |
| 2009 | 3 | #701 |
| 2008 | 3 | #698 |
| 2005 | 3 | #518 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Ezekiel mean?
God strengthens
Hebrew, from Yehezqel (God strengthens), through Greek and Latin.
Say it right
ihZEEkeeul
The story of Ezekiel
Ezekiel comes from the Hebrew Yehezqel, meaning “God strengthens”. It reached English through the Greek and Latin Bibles. In Irish the prophet is Eizicéil.
Ezekiel was a priest and prophet of the Old Testament, living among the exiles in Babylon, and the Book of Ezekiel carries his visions. English Puritans took up the name in the 17th century, along with many other Old Testament names. Zeke is the usual short form.
Ezekiel first appears in the CSO records in 2005, but for many years it was given to only three or four boys at a time. It has climbed steadily in the 2020s, part of a wider taste for biblical names like Elijah and Ezra. In 2025 it had its best year so far, with 24 boys in 2025 and a place at number 198.
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Sources
- Wiktionary: Ezekiel (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Ezekiel (name)
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Nicknames
Zeke
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel | 24 | 101 |
In Northern Ireland
Not in the 2025 list. Best rank #266 (2021); 40 babies since 2017.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.