1961. 'And Abram called the name of his son whom Hagar bore, Ishmael' means the nature of it. This is clear from the meaning of 'the name' as knowing the nature of, dealt with in 144, 145, 1754, and also from the representation and meaning of 'Ishmael' as rational truth, described in verses 11 and 12 by the words,
You will call his name Ishmael because Jehovah has hearkened to your affliction. And he will be a wild- ass man; his hand will be against all, and the hand of all against him; and he will dwell in opposition toa all his brothers.
For the meaning of these words, see the explanation of those two verses. It is the nature of this rational that is described here.
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