Fun Facts About the Name Isaac
- Back among the favorites: Isaac returned to the U.S. top 100 in 1883 and stayed there for 31 consecutive years, through 2025.
- More than 332 thousand babies named Isaac: U.S. records list 332,194 babies given the name Isaac from 1880 through 2025. Even 784 girls received the name Isaac - about 1 girl for every 423 boys.
What Does the Name Isaac Mean?
Isaac is a male given name derived from the Hebrew name יִצְחָק (Yitzhak). The name comes from the Hebrew root צָחַק (tsachaq), which means "to laugh." Its literal meaning is often given as "he will laugh" or "he laughs." In the Hebrew Bible, the name is given to the son of Abraham and Sarah; Sarah laughs when she learns she will bear a child in her old age (Genesis 18:12).
The name passed into Greek as Ἰσαάκ (Isaak) and into Latin as Isaac, and from there into many European languages. The English form Isaac comes from the Latin. While the literal etymology is "he will laugh," later religious interpretations sometimes treat the name as a sign of joy or divine promise.
Isaac Name History & Origins
The name appears in the Hebrew Bible as יִצְחָק (Yitzhak), the son of Abraham and Sarah. It was borne by the patriarch Isaac, whose story is told in Genesis. The Greek Septuagint rendered the name as Ἰσαάκ (Isaak), and the Latin Vulgate as Isaac. This form passed into Western European languages. In the New Testament, Isaac is mentioned as an ancestor of Jesus (Matthew 1:2).
The name was used by Jews throughout the diaspora and by Christians from an early period. It was borne by several saints, including Saint Isaac of Nineveh, a 7th-century Syriac Christian bishop, and Saint Isaac Jogues, a 17th-century French Jesuit missionary and martyr. In the Islamic tradition, Isaac (Ishaq) is regarded as a prophet. The name has remained in continuous use.
How Popular is the Name Isaac?
Isaac has a rich multi-era history in the U.S. top 100, spanning 45 total years and enjoying its modern revival from 1995 to 2025.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #9,719 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2024 | #14,107 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2023 | #12,652 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2020 | #11,485 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2019 | #9,347 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 2018 | #10,899 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2017 | #8,993 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2016 | #7,750 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2015 | #9,165 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2014 | #8,658 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2013 | #13,719 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2012 | #9,974 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2011 | #12,607 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2010 | #18,037 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2009 | #9,608 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2008 | #8,279 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2007 | #9,199 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2006 | #8,426 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 2005 | #5,890 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 2004 | #3,588 | 41 | 0.0022% |
| 2003 | #7,002 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2002 | #9,076 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2001 | #7,093 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2000 | #6,605 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1999 | #6,019 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1998 | #7,267 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1997 | #8,587 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1996 | #9,087 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1995 | #7,714 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1994 | #6,452 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1993 | #6,775 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1992 | #9,815 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1991 | #7,602 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1990 | #8,102 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1989 | #9,040 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1988 | #5,425 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1987 | #4,540 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1986 | #6,318 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1985 | #6,625 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1984 | #4,394 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1983 | #4,751 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1982 | #3,692 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 1981 | #6,999 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1980 | #4,046 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1979 | #4,922 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1978 | #5,308 | 12 | 0.0008% |
| 1977 | #5,030 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1976 | #5,346 | 11 | 0.0008% |
| 1975 | #5,274 | 11 | 0.0008% |
| 1974 | #8,059 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1972 | #6,813 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1971 | #6,222 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1970 | #7,399 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1969 | #5,632 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1967 | #6,304 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1966 | #5,464 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1962 | #6,945 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1959 | #4,783 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1957 | #6,461 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1956 | #5,549 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1954 | #4,875 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1951 | #5,084 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1947 | #5,644 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1946 | #3,314 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1945 | #4,851 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1942 | #4,924 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1939 | #4,533 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1937 | #4,535 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1935 | #4,502 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1933 | #3,941 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1928 | #5,033 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1926 | #4,545 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1925 | #4,667 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1919 | #4,025 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #47 | 5,953 | 0.3485% |
| 2024 | #40 | 6,498 | 0.3788% |
| 2023 | #42 | 6,606 | 0.3866% |
| 2022 | #41 | 6,745 | 0.3867% |
| 2021 | #40 | 6,982 | 0.3994% |
| 2020 | #39 | 7,149 | 0.4144% |
| 2019 | #34 | 8,228 | 0.4588% |
| 2018 | #34 | 8,502 | 0.4683% |
| 2017 | #32 | 8,891 | 0.4805% |
| 2016 | #31 | 9,774 | 0.5152% |
| 2015 | #31 | 9,986 | 0.5211% |
| 2014 | #31 | 9,994 | 0.5204% |
| 2013 | #28 | 10,133 | 0.5358% |
| 2012 | #30 | 10,062 | 0.5305% |
| 2011 | #35 | 9,606 | 0.5058% |
| 2010 | #39 | 9,371 | 0.4885% |
| 2009 | #40 | 9,567 | 0.4824% |
| 2008 | #37 | 10,029 | 0.4916% |
| 2007 | #41 | 10,274 | 0.4951% |
| 2006 | #48 | 9,684 | 0.4712% |
| 2005 | #49 | 9,127 | 0.4570% |
| 2004 | #46 | 9,181 | 0.4626% |
| 2003 | #48 | 8,943 | 0.4527% |
| 2002 | #48 | 8,311 | 0.4281% |
| 2001 | #47 | 8,200 | 0.4221% |
| 2000 | #53 | 7,439 | 0.3788% |
| 1999 | #64 | 6,407 | 0.3337% |
| 1998 | #65 | 5,859 | 0.3065% |
| 1997 | #73 | 5,145 | 0.2729% |
| 1996 | #86 | 4,565 | 0.2410% |
| 1995 | #98 | 3,881 | 0.2039% |
| 1994 | #103 | 3,495 | 0.1809% |
| 1993 | #110 | 3,214 | 0.1639% |
| 1992 | #124 | 2,773 | 0.1388% |
| 1991 | #130 | 2,500 | 0.1237% |
| 1990 | #132 | 2,429 | 0.1183% |
| 1989 | #137 | 2,210 | 0.1105% |
| 1988 | #143 | 1,964 | 0.1026% |
| 1987 | #151 | 1,828 | 0.0979% |
| 1986 | #155 | 1,737 | 0.0943% |
| 1985 | #165 | 1,673 | 0.0905% |
| 1984 | #160 | 1,692 | 0.0937% |
| 1983 | #151 | 1,796 | 0.1002% |
| 1982 | #151 | 1,841 | 0.1015% |
| 1981 | #150 | 1,836 | 0.1025% |
| 1980 | #150 | 1,798 | 0.1008% |
| 1979 | #151 | 1,734 | 0.1007% |
| 1978 | #167 | 1,451 | 0.0884% |
| 1977 | #184 | 1,264 | 0.0769% |
| 1976 | #202 | 1,093 | 0.0697% |
| 1975 | #213 | 1,014 | 0.0649% |
| 1974 | #224 | 941 | 0.0598% |
| 1973 | #235 | 896 | 0.0575% |
| 1972 | #251 | 806 | 0.0497% |
| 1971 | #288 | 713 | 0.0403% |
| 1970 | #333 | 569 | 0.0306% |
| 1969 | #349 | 515 | 0.0288% |
| 1968 | #375 | 427 | 0.0246% |
| 1967 | #377 | 395 | 0.0227% |
| 1966 | #364 | 429 | 0.0241% |
| 1965 | #375 | 428 | 0.0230% |
| 1964 | #352 | 496 | 0.0249% |
| 1963 | #359 | 472 | 0.0232% |
| 1962 | #363 | 482 | 0.0233% |
| 1961 | #357 | 494 | 0.0233% |
| 1960 | #363 | 468 | 0.0220% |
| 1959 | #342 | 513 | 0.0240% |
| 1958 | #332 | 540 | 0.0254% |
| 1957 | #334 | 521 | 0.0242% |
| 1956 | #317 | 552 | 0.0261% |
| 1955 | #315 | 545 | 0.0265% |
| 1954 | #295 | 585 | 0.0287% |
| 1953 | #301 | 548 | 0.0278% |
| 1952 | #294 | 564 | 0.0290% |
| 1951 | #292 | 554 | 0.0294% |
| 1950 | #282 | 557 | 0.0311% |
| 1949 | #270 | 599 | 0.0338% |
| 1948 | #298 | 533 | 0.0304% |
| 1947 | #280 | 599 | 0.0327% |
| 1946 | #285 | 514 | 0.0317% |
| 1945 | #281 | 460 | 0.0342% |
| 1944 | #269 | 491 | 0.0360% |
| 1943 | #279 | 481 | 0.0337% |
| 1942 | #283 | 450 | 0.0326% |
| 1941 | #265 | 451 | 0.0367% |
| 1940 | #246 | 487 | 0.0420% |
| 1939 | #249 | 463 | 0.0418% |
| 1938 | #253 | 460 | 0.0415% |
| 1937 | #255 | 447 | 0.0419% |
| 1936 | #261 | 423 | 0.0408% |
| 1935 | #241 | 476 | 0.0457% |
| 1934 | #237 | 481 | 0.0466% |
| 1933 | #237 | 480 | 0.0484% |
| 1932 | #240 | 492 | 0.0471% |
| 1931 | #256 | 443 | 0.0426% |
| 1930 | #231 | 548 | 0.0499% |
| 1929 | #218 | 585 | 0.0544% |
| 1928 | #241 | 534 | 0.0482% |
| 1927 | #203 | 693 | 0.0615% |
| 1926 | #229 | 586 | 0.0528% |
| 1925 | #206 | 678 | 0.0608% |
| 1924 | #199 | 704 | 0.0622% |
| 1923 | #197 | 698 | 0.0637% |
| 1922 | #190 | 720 | 0.0662% |
| 1921 | #208 | 648 | 0.0588% |
| 1920 | #191 | 706 | 0.0663% |
| 1919 | #178 | 737 | 0.0752% |
| 1918 | #194 | 658 | 0.0649% |
| 1917 | #192 | 622 | 0.0672% |
| 1916 | #186 | 629 | 0.0707% |
| 1915 | #196 | 568 | 0.0669% |
| 1914 | #177 | 496 | 0.0758% |
| 1913 | #172 | 398 | 0.0776% |
| 1912 | #162 | 359 | 0.0835% |
| 1911 | #143 | 233 | 0.1031% |
| 1910 | #130 | 252 | 0.1298% |
| 1909 | #128 | 209 | 0.1274% |
| 1908 | #145 | 162 | 0.1050% |
| 1907 | #134 | 178 | 0.1212% |
| 1906 | #128 | 163 | 0.1224% |
| 1905 | #145 | 147 | 0.1111% |
| 1904 | #126 | 167 | 0.1303% |
| 1903 | #138 | 138 | 0.1157% |
| 1902 | #135 | 143 | 0.1166% |
| 1901 | #125 | 133 | 0.1249% |
| 1900 | #116 | 198 | 0.1316% |
| 1899 | #119 | 139 | 0.1309% |
| 1898 | #117 | 156 | 0.1272% |
| 1897 | #101 | 175 | 0.1552% |
| 1896 | #100 | 191 | 0.1597% |
| 1895 | #107 | 172 | 0.1465% |
| 1894 | #105 | 170 | 0.1468% |
| 1893 | #97 | 182 | 0.1620% |
| 1892 | #94 | 203 | 0.1663% |
| 1891 | #101 | 160 | 0.1581% |
| 1890 | #92 | 187 | 0.1684% |
| 1889 | #91 | 188 | 0.1700% |
| 1888 | #85 | 221 | 0.1829% |
| 1887 | #84 | 194 | 0.1913% |
| 1886 | #80 | 224 | 0.2022% |
| 1885 | #79 | 204 | 0.1892% |
| 1884 | #75 | 243 | 0.2123% |
| 1883 | #70 | 227 | 0.2170% |
| 1882 | #65 | 278 | 0.2445% |
| 1881 | #64 | 258 | 0.2561% |
| 1880 | #62 | 274 | 0.2480% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
