Isaac Boy

Popularity: #47 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: EYE-zik //ˈaɪzɪk//

Origin: Hebrew; English

Meaning: Hebrew: 'laughter'; English: derived from Hebrew

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Isaac has its roots in the Hebrew language, derived from the word "Yitzhak," which means "he will laugh" or "laughter." This etymology reflects a biblical narrative in which Isaac's mother, Sarah, laughed upon hearing that she would bear a son in her old age, as recounted in the Book of Genesis. The name was transliterated into Greek as "Isaak" and subsequently into Latin as "Isaacus," before making its way into Old French as "Isaac," and finally into Middle English, where it has remained largely unchanged in form.

Historically, Isaac is a significant figure in the Hebrew Bible, recognized as one of the patriarchs of the Israelites, alongside Abraham and Jacob. His life and legacy are chronicled in various texts, particularly in the Book of Genesis, which dates back to the 10th century BCE.

Isaac's story includes pivotal events such as his near-sacrifice by Abraham, a narrative that has resonated through Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions. The name has been borne by numerous notable figures throughout history, including saints and scholars, contributing to its enduring presence in religious and cultural contexts.

Culturally, the name Isaac carries connotations of joy and fulfillment, stemming from its etymological roots. It has been associated with themes of hope and divine promise, reflecting the biblical narrative of Isaac's birth as a miraculous event.

The name has also inspired various diminutive forms, such as "Ike," which have appeared in different cultures. Isaac's significance extends beyond religious texts, influencing literature and art throughout the centuries, and it remains a name imbued with historical and cultural weight.

Famous people named Isaac

In this section, you will find notable people named Isaac. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Isaac who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Isaac who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Isaac Asimov is a science fiction author best known for Foundation, I, Robot, and The Gods Themselves.

Isaac Newton is a mathematician and physicist best known for the laws of motion, universal gravitation, and calculus.

Isaac Hayes is a singer and songwriter best known for Theme from Shaft, Hot Buttered Soul, and his role on South Park.

Isaac Mizrahi is a fashion designer and television personality best known for his work in fashion design and hosting Isaac's Style Book.

Isaac Stern is a violinist best known for his performances and recordings, as well as his contributions to music education.

Fictional characters named Isaac

The following list of fictional characters named Isaac is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Isaac Clarke is a fictional character from the video game series Dead Space. He is an engineer who battles monstrous creatures known as Necromorphs while trying to survive in a space horror environment.

Isaac Asimov is a fictional character from the science fiction series Foundation. He is a psychohistorian who uses mathematics to predict the future of civilization and guide its course.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Isaac, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

JacobEthanSamuelNoahLeviDaniel

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Isaac. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

EzekielIsaiahElijahMicahZacharyMalachiJosiahSilas

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Isaac was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Isaac has ranked as high as #60 nationally, which occurred in 2007, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Florida, and Illinois.

In the past 5 years the name Isaac has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Isaac is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Isaac was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Isaac.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 5,963 5,953 10
2024 6,535 6,529 6
2023 6,628 6,621 7
2022 6,752 6,752 0
2021 6,987 6,987 0
2020 7,163 7,155 8
2019 8,242 8,231 11
2018 8,512 8,503 9
2017 8,906 8,894 12
2016 9,797 9,782 15
2015 10,000 9,988 12
2014 10,012 9,999 13
2013 10,141 10,134 7
2012 10,076 10,065 11
2011 9,615 9,607 8
2010 9,376 9,371 5
2009 9,581 9,569 12
2008 10,045 10,030 15
2007 10,287 10,274 13
2006 9,699 9,685 14
2005 9,148 9,127 21
2004 9,222 9,181 41
2003 8,960 8,944 16
2002 8,323 8,312 11
2001 8,215 8,200 15
2000 7,455 7,439 16
1999 6,424 6,407 17
1998 5,872 5,859 13
1997 5,156 5,146 10
1996 4,575 4,566 9
1995 3,892 3,881 11
1994 3,510 3,496 14
1993 3,227 3,214 13
1992 2,781 2,773 8
1991 2,511 2,500 11
1990 2,439 2,429 10
1989 2,218 2,210 8
1988 1,979 1,964 15
1987 1,846 1,828 18
1986 1,747 1,736 11
1985 1,683 1,673 10
1984 1,709 1,692 17
1983 1,811 1,796 15
1982 1,863 1,841 22
1981 1,845 1,836 9
1980 1,817 1,798 19
1979 1,748 1,734 14
1978 1,463 1,451 12
1977 1,277 1,264 13
1976 1,104 1,093 11
1975 1,025 1,014 11
1974 947 941 6
1973 896 896 0
1972 813 806 7
1971 720 712 8
1970 575 569 6
1969 522 514 8
1968 427 427 0
1967 401 395 6
1966 437 430 7
1965 428 428 0
1964 496 496 0
1963 472 472 0
1962 487 482 5
1961 494 494 0
1960 467 467 0
1959 521 513 8
1958 540 540 0
1957 526 521 5
1956 558 552 6
1955 545 545 0
1954 592 585 7
1953 548 548 0
1952 564 564 0
1951 560 554 6
1950 557 557 0
1949 599 599 0
1948 533 533 0
1947 604 599 5
1946 524 514 10
1945 465 460 5
1944 491 491 0
1943 481 481 0
1942 455 450 5
1941 451 451 0
1940 486 486 0
1939 470 465 5
1938 460 460 0
1937 452 447 5
1936 423 423 0
1935 481 476 5
1934 481 481 0
1933 486 480 6
1932 492 492 0
1931 443 443 0
1930 548 548 0
1929 585 585 0
1928 539 534 5
1927 693 693 0
1926 592 586 6
1925 684 678 6
1924 704 704 0
1923 698 698 0
1922 720 720 0
1921 648 648 0
1920 706 706 0
1919 744 737 7
1918 658 658 0
1917 622 622 0
1916 629 629 0
1915 568 568 0
1914 496 496 0
1913 398 398 0
1912 359 359 0
1911 233 233 0
1910 252 252 0
1909 209 209 0
1908 162 162 0
1907 178 178 0
1906 163 163 0
1905 147 147 0
1904 167 167 0
1903 138 138 0
1902 143 143 0
1901 133 133 0
1900 198 198 0
1899 139 139 0
1898 156 156 0
1897 175 175 0
1896 191 191 0
1895 172 172 0
1894 170 170 0
1893 182 182 0
1892 203 203 0
1891 160 160 0
1890 187 187 0
1889 188 188 0
1888 221 221 0
1887 194 194 0
1886 224 224 0
1885 204 204 0
1884 243 243 0
1883 227 227 0
1882 278 278 0
1881 258 258 0
1880 274 274 0

Top States for Isaac (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 836
13%
TX 784
12%
NY 432
7%
FL 398
6%
PA 225
3%
IL 215
3%
OH 214
3%
NJ 213
3%
NC 198
3%
GA 192
3%
WA 185
3%
VA 161
2%
MI 153
2%
MD 150
2%
MA 142
2%
TN 140
2%
IN 137
2%
CO 133
2%
AZ 129
2%
MO 102
2%
MN 100
2%
UT 90
1%
SC 84
1%
OK 80
1%
KY 75
1%
LA 75
1%
WI 75
1%
AL 74
1%
OR 70
1%
NV 68
1%
KS 60
1%
IA 54
1%
CT 52
1%
AR 51
1%
NE 48
1%
MS 35
1%
NM 33
1%
ID 31
0%
WV 24
0%
HI 22
0%
RI 21
0%
NH 19
0%
DC 19
0%
AK 17
0%
ND 16
0%
MT 15
0%
ME 14
0%
SD 11
0%
DE 11
0%
VT 8
0%
WY 7
0%