The first name Isaac
A boy’s name from Hebrew meaning “he laughs”, “he will laugh”.
Pronounced /ˈaɪzək/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Hebrew origin
Isaac means “he laughs”, “he will laugh” in Hebrew.
From Middle English Ysaac, from Latin Isaac, from Ancient Greek Ἰσαάκ (Isaák), from Hebrew יצחק (Yiṣḥāq, literally “he laughs, he will laugh”). Explained in Genesis as referring to his mother Sarah’s laughing when she was told she would have a son at her old age. The verb is masculine, however, perhaps due to its use as a boy’s name.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 1,331 boys were named Isaac, making it the 36th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2015, with 2,829 births (#20).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Isaac with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Isaac at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 5,953 boys born in the United States were named Isaac, the 47th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2007, when 10,274 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Isaac in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
Spelled Isaac in French and Spanish too.
Nicknames and spellings
Famous people named Isaac
147 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Isaac NewtonEnglish mathematician and physicist (1642–1727)
- Isaac AsimovAmerican writer and biochemist (1920–1992)
- Isidor Isaac RabiAmerican physicist (1898–1988)
- Isaac HayesAmerican musician and actor (1942-2008)
- Isaac BarrowEnglish Christian theologian, and mathematician (1630-1677)
- Isaac SingerAmerican businessman; inventor of the Singer sewing machine (1811-1875)
- Isaac the SyrianEastern Orthodox saint, 640–700
- Isaac SternAmerican musician (1920–2001)
- Isaac Hempstead-WrightEnglish actor, born 1999
- Antoine Isaac Silvestre de SacyFrench linguist and orientalist (1758–1838)
- Isaac TitsinghDutch diplomat (1745 - 1812)
- Yacouba Isaac ZidaBurkinabé military officer and politician, born 1965
More Hebrew boys’ names
Questions
- What does the name Isaac mean?
- Isaac means “he laughs”, “he will laugh” in Hebrew.
- What is the origin of the name Isaac?
- From Middle English Ysaac, from Latin Isaac, from Ancient Greek Ἰσαάκ (Isaák), from Hebrew יצחק (Yiṣḥāq, literally “he laughs, he will laugh”). Explained in Genesis as referring to his mother Sarah’s laughing when she was told she would have a son at her old age. The verb is masculine, however,…
- How popular is the name Isaac?
- In 2025, 1,331 boys born in England and Wales were named Isaac, ranking 36th. Its peak was 2015, with 2,829 births.
- What are nicknames for Isaac?
- Common nicknames for Isaac include Izzy, Ike, Ikey.
- Is Isaac a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 332,292 US babies named Isaac since 1880 were boys.
- When was Isaac most popular?
- 2007 in the United States, when 10,274 babies were named Isaac, its highest rank at 41st.
- How do you pronounce Isaac?
- Isaac is /ˈaɪzək/, 2 syllables.
- What are other spellings of Isaac?
- Itzhak.
- Is Isaac also a surname?
- Yes. Isaac is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.