Fun Facts About the Name Isah
- 41 babies named Isah: U.S. records list 41 babies given the name Isah from 1880 through 2025. Even 5 girls received the name Isah - about 1 girl for every 7 boys.
What Does the Name Isah Mean?
Isah has two independent origins. In many Muslim communities, especially in West Africa, it is a variant spelling of Isa, the Arabic name for Jesus. This name is traditionally linked to the Hebrew Yeshua (יֵשׁוּעַ), a shortened form of Yehoshua (Joshua). Yeshua combines the divine name YHWH with the verb yasha, meaning "to save" or "to deliver," so its literal meaning is "Yahweh is salvation." In Arabic, the name is written عيسى (ʿĪsā). The Arabic form does not have a clear Arabic etymology; it is a loanword. Some scholars suggest it comes from Syriac Yeshu, while others argue it derives from a dialectal form of the Hebrew name. The exact route remains uncertain.
Separately, in Indonesia and Malaysia, Isah is a feminine given name, often a short form of Aisha (Arabic عائشة, ʿĀʾishah). Aisha comes from the Arabic root ع-ي-ش (ʿ-y-sh), meaning "to live," so it is commonly understood to mean "living" or "prosperous." This origin is distinct from the Arabic name for Jesus.
Isah Name History & Origins
The name Isa appears in the Quran as the name of Jesus. It is used by Arabic-speaking Muslims and Christians. As Islam spread, the name was adopted in many languages, including Persian (Isa), Turkish (İsa), and Swahili (Isa). In West Africa, particularly in Nigeria and Ghana, the spellings Isah and Issah became common among Muslim communities. These spellings reflect English transliteration of the Arabic name. The name is also found as a surname. The Hebrew Yeshua, from which the meaning is derived, developed into Greek Iesous and Latin Iesus, which gave English Jesus. The Arabic Isa, however, followed a separate path; its exact origin is debated among linguists.
In Indonesia and Malaysia, Isah developed independently as a feminine name. It is a shortened form of Aisyah or Aisah, the local spellings of the Arabic Aisha (ʿĀʾishah). Aisha was the name of a wife of the Prophet Muhammad, and the name is common in Muslim communities. In Indonesian and Malay, the initial A is often dropped in informal usage, yielding Isah. This form is used as a given name, distinct from the Arabic Isa.
How Popular is the Name Isah?
Isah has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 1924. Its best rank was #3,368 in 1924.
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 | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | #18,700 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | #13,091 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 2000 | #11,050 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1998 | #7,900 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1924 | #3,368 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1922 | #4,059 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1920 | #4,614 | 5 | 0.0005% |
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 Isah 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 a chance to do your own thing, to be your own person, and to have things done your own way.
✦ Isah's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Isah's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.