Fun Facts About the Name Isa
- More than 6 thousand babies named Isa: U.S. records list 6,569 babies given the name Isa from 1880 through 2025. Of these, 3,136 boys received the name Isa.
What Does the Name Isa Mean?
Isa has two main independent origins. The first is the Arabic male name ʿĪsā (عيسى), the Quranic name for Jesus. It is used throughout the Muslim world and is generally understood as the Arabic form of Jesus, a name that goes back to Hebrew Yehoshua (also Yeshua), meaning 'Yahweh is salvation' or 'God saves.' In Arabic, ʿĪsā functions as a proper name rather than a common noun, and the exact path by which it entered Arabic from Aramaic or Syriac is debated. The second origin is the feminine name Isa, common in Europe and the Americas as a short form of Isabella or Isabel. Those names derive from Elizabeth, from Hebrew Elisheva, meaning 'God is my oath.' In Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and German, Isa is a familiar diminutive of Isabella. A third, less certain explanation links Scandinavian Isa to the Old Norse word íss, 'ice,' but the personal name is often treated instead as a form of Isabella.
Isa Name History & Origins
The Arabic name ʿĪsā appears in the Quran, where Jesus is called ʿĪsā ibn Maryam, 'Jesus son of Mary.' It is distinct from the Arabic Christian form Yassūʿ (يسوع), which is closer to the Syriac Yeshuʿ. The Quranic form spread with Islam and the Arabic language, becoming a common male given name in the Middle East, North Africa, West Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. In Turkish it is İsa; in Persian and Urdu it is ʿĪsā. The name is also used by non-Arab Muslims as their form of Jesus. In the Balkans, Isa is a male name from Ottoman Turkish İsa, ultimately from Arabic ʿĪsā.
In Europe, Isa developed separately as a short form of Isabella and Isabel. It appears in Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and German as a diminutive, and in modern times it is also used as an independent female name in English-speaking countries. In Scandinavia, Isa is a female name; its origin is sometimes linked to the Old Norse word íss ('ice'), but it is also explained as a form of Isabella. The rune Isa in the Elder Futhark is named for ice, though that is a separate runic tradition from the personal name.
How Popular is the Name Isa?
Isa recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2025. Its best rank was #411 in 1881.
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 | #1,717 | 119 | 0.0074% |
| 2024 | #1,968 | 100 | 0.0062% |
| 2023 | #2,249 | 83 | 0.0052% |
| 2022 | #1,934 | 103 | 0.0063% |
| 2021 | #2,354 | 77 | 0.0047% |
| 2020 | #2,023 | 92 | 0.0057% |
| 2019 | #2,037 | 94 | 0.0056% |
| 2018 | #1,929 | 103 | 0.0061% |
| 2017 | #2,171 | 88 | 0.0051% |
| 2016 | #2,466 | 74 | 0.0042% |
| 2015 | #2,486 | 73 | 0.0041% |
| 2014 | #2,059 | 95 | 0.0053% |
| 2013 | #2,783 | 62 | 0.0035% |
| 2012 | #2,815 | 62 | 0.0035% |
| 2011 | #2,743 | 64 | 0.0036% |
| 2010 | #3,022 | 56 | 0.0032% |
| 2009 | #3,174 | 53 | 0.0029% |
| 2008 | #3,094 | 55 | 0.0029% |
| 2007 | #3,143 | 55 | 0.0029% |
| 2006 | #3,952 | 38 | 0.0020% |
| 2005 | #3,184 | 49 | 0.0027% |
| 2004 | #3,459 | 43 | 0.0023% |
| 2003 | #4,138 | 32 | 0.0018% |
| 2002 | #4,962 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 2001 | #5,259 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 2000 | #5,377 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1999 | #4,780 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1998 | #5,022 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1997 | #5,714 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1996 | #6,171 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1995 | #5,096 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1994 | #6,451 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1993 | #4,717 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1992 | #4,006 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 1991 | #5,504 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1990 | #4,571 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 1989 | #5,940 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1988 | #5,136 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1987 | #4,176 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 1986 | #5,892 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1985 | #4,029 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 1984 | #4,048 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1983 | #4,003 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1982 | #4,404 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1981 | #4,208 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1980 | #3,352 | 25 | 0.0015% |
| 1979 | #4,103 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1978 | #3,826 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 1977 | #3,954 | 18 | 0.0012% |
| 1976 | #4,438 | 14 | 0.0010% |
| 1975 | #3,196 | 22 | 0.0015% |
| 1974 | #3,352 | 20 | 0.0014% |
| 1973 | #2,942 | 23 | 0.0016% |
| 1972 | #3,445 | 18 | 0.0012% |
| 1971 | #3,561 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1970 | #3,484 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1969 | #3,048 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 1968 | #3,680 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1967 | #3,391 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1966 | #3,633 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1965 | #3,625 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1964 | #3,580 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1963 | #5,533 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1962 | #3,218 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1961 | #4,671 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1960 | #3,781 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1959 | #4,782 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1958 | #3,438 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1957 | #5,674 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1956 | #5,026 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1955 | #5,460 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1954 | #4,091 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1953 | #6,022 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1952 | #3,934 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1951 | #5,083 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1950 | #5,611 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1949 | #4,027 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1948 | #4,896 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1947 | #3,327 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1946 | #5,244 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1945 | #3,238 | 9 | 0.0007% |
| 1944 | #3,858 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1943 | #4,405 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1942 | #2,349 | 15 | 0.0011% |
| 1941 | #3,375 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1940 | #3,336 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1939 | #1,988 | 17 | 0.0016% |
| 1938 | #2,496 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1937 | #3,034 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1936 | #2,962 | 9 | 0.0009% |
| 1935 | #2,638 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1934 | #1,868 | 18 | 0.0017% |
| 1933 | #2,766 | 10 | 0.0010% |
| 1932 | #2,927 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1931 | #2,358 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1930 | #3,487 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1929 | #3,026 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1928 | #3,037 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1927 | #3,410 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1926 | #2,791 | 12 | 0.0010% |
| 1925 | #1,770 | 24 | 0.0020% |
| 1924 | #2,249 | 17 | 0.0014% |
| 1923 | #3,488 | 9 | 0.0007% |
| 1922 | #2,059 | 19 | 0.0016% |
| 1921 | #2,015 | 20 | 0.0016% |
| 1920 | #1,637 | 26 | 0.0022% |
| 1919 | #1,542 | 27 | 0.0024% |
| 1918 | #2,587 | 13 | 0.0011% |
| 1917 | #1,806 | 20 | 0.0018% |
| 1916 | #1,713 | 21 | 0.0020% |
| 1915 | #1,300 | 30 | 0.0030% |
| 1914 | #1,630 | 17 | 0.0022% |
| 1913 | #1,711 | 13 | 0.0021% |
| 1912 | #1,325 | 17 | 0.0030% |
| 1911 | #1,591 | 10 | 0.0024% |
| 1910 | #1,843 | 8 | 0.0020% |
| 1909 | #1,179 | 13 | 0.0037% |
| 1908 | #1,964 | 6 | 0.0018% |
| 1907 | #963 | 16 | 0.0050% |
| 1906 | #1,189 | 11 | 0.0037% |
| 1905 | #1,124 | 12 | 0.0041% |
| 1904 | #1,023 | 13 | 0.0047% |
| 1903 | #1,164 | 10 | 0.0038% |
| 1902 | #1,377 | 8 | 0.0030% |
| 1901 | #809 | 17 | 0.0071% |
| 1900 | #902 | 18 | 0.0060% |
| 1899 | #919 | 13 | 0.0056% |
| 1898 | #1,210 | 9 | 0.0035% |
| 1897 | #728 | 19 | 0.0081% |
| 1896 | #738 | 19 | 0.0080% |
| 1895 | #958 | 12 | 0.0051% |
| 1894 | #876 | 13 | 0.0058% |
| 1893 | #988 | 10 | 0.0047% |
| 1892 | #713 | 17 | 0.0080% |
| 1891 | #817 | 12 | 0.0065% |
| 1890 | #626 | 18 | 0.0095% |
| 1889 | #703 | 14 | 0.0078% |
| 1888 | #620 | 17 | 0.0095% |
| 1887 | #620 | 14 | 0.0096% |
| 1886 | #546 | 17 | 0.0118% |
| 1885 | #591 | 14 | 0.0105% |
| 1884 | #625 | 12 | 0.0093% |
| 1883 | #784 | 7 | 0.0062% |
| 1882 | #548 | 12 | 0.0111% |
| 1881 | #411 | 17 | 0.0185% |
| 1880 | #875 | 5 | 0.0055% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #933 | 253 | 0.0148% |
| 2024 | #1,029 | 216 | 0.0126% |
| 2023 | #1,188 | 170 | 0.0099% |
| 2022 | #1,459 | 124 | 0.0071% |
| 2021 | #1,257 | 152 | 0.0087% |
| 2020 | #1,301 | 139 | 0.0081% |
| 2019 | #1,464 | 119 | 0.0066% |
| 2018 | #1,424 | 123 | 0.0068% |
| 2017 | #1,373 | 129 | 0.0070% |
| 2016 | #1,492 | 114 | 0.0060% |
| 2015 | #1,485 | 112 | 0.0058% |
| 2014 | #1,601 | 98 | 0.0051% |
| 2013 | #1,616 | 95 | 0.0050% |
| 2012 | #1,483 | 109 | 0.0057% |
| 2011 | #1,891 | 74 | 0.0039% |
| 2010 | #1,890 | 76 | 0.0040% |
| 2009 | #1,877 | 77 | 0.0039% |
| 2008 | #2,013 | 70 | 0.0034% |
| 2007 | #2,077 | 66 | 0.0032% |
| 2006 | #2,297 | 55 | 0.0027% |
| 2005 | #2,042 | 61 | 0.0031% |
| 2004 | #2,262 | 51 | 0.0026% |
| 2003 | #2,524 | 41 | 0.0021% |
| 2002 | #2,030 | 54 | 0.0028% |
| 2001 | #2,647 | 36 | 0.0019% |
| 2000 | #2,644 | 35 | 0.0018% |
| 1999 | #2,183 | 43 | 0.0022% |
| 1998 | #2,959 | 27 | 0.0014% |
| 1997 | #3,392 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 1996 | #3,059 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 1995 | #3,138 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 1994 | #4,632 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1993 | #3,726 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1992 | #2,943 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 1991 | #3,162 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1990 | #3,680 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1989 | #2,824 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 1988 | #3,420 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1987 | #6,426 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1986 | #3,727 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1985 | #4,170 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1984 | #3,548 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1983 | #2,612 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1982 | #2,632 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1981 | #2,824 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1980 | #2,575 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1979 | #3,434 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1978 | #2,845 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1977 | #3,096 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1976 | #3,584 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1975 | #2,977 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1974 | #4,877 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1973 | #3,851 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1972 | #4,164 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1971 | #4,625 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1969 | #4,141 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1964 | #3,795 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1925 | #4,551 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1915 | #3,611 | 6 | 0.0007% |
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.
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How the Name Isa Shapes Your Personality and Life?
Your tendency is to finish whatever you start. You like to use the pen or the needle (writing, fashion design etc). You are loving, compassionate, intuitive and humanitarian. Runs of luck, either good or bad, follow you. You are sympathetic, but at times might be touchy and oversensitive. You may have a gift for writing. You are intuitive and might be interested in the arts, drama or science.
You are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.
✦ Isa's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Isa's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.