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I've loved Ishmael for years. But because of the Moby Dick thing, I've transfered my affections to Ismael. Ismael is more sophisticated and grown up than quirky Ishmael anyway.

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Have you come up with any combinations that you like?

I've loved the name for quite awhile, though there is the strong association with Moby Dick and the religious associations. Still, those seem like rather benign associations; I wouldn't consider the name tainted the way a name like Adolf is.

Not a favourite, but it would work as name.

It reminds me of Moby Dick, MAD Magazine's parody of Moby Dick ("Call me Fishmeal."), and Daniel Quinn's awful novel Ishmael, where Ishmael is a smug, telepathic gorilla.

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I'm not a huge fan of it aesthetically. I like Ismael a bit more, but I'm still not crazy about it. Nothing wrong with Ishmael and its variants, but they're just not my thing.

I don't think it's too workable. It carries a LOT of baggage, from Abraham's rejected son to "Call me Ishmael."

"Call me..."

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Aside from the obvious Moby Dick jokes, I don't see anything wrong with it. It doesn't do much for me personally, but it's not terrible.

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I'd prefer it as a middle name, though. And I'd rather see Esmail, I've got to say--I fell in love with it after seeing House of Sand and Fog. :)

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