Isaac
EYE-zuk /ˈaɪ.zək/
Meaning of Isaac
Isaac comes from the Hebrew יִצְחָק (Yitzḥak), from tzaḥaq — 'to laugh.' In Genesis 17:17 Abraham laughs when told Sarah will bear a son at their advanced age; Genesis 18:12 records Sarah also laughing. The child is named Isaac ('he laughs') as a memorial to both parents' incredulous laughter at God's promise. The name has been in English use since the 12th century.
Current popularity of Isaac
Rankings from the most recent fully-published year in each national registry. Source links at the foot of the page.
| Registry | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| United States (SSA) | 2024 | #29 |
| France (INSEE) | 2024 | #38 |
Notable bearers of Isaac
Isaac (Hebrew Bible, son of Abraham and Sarah); Sir Isaac Newton; Isaac Asimov.
Similar names & variants
Cognates, spelling variants and close relatives. Click any name with an underline to read its own page.
Sibling-name suggestions
Names that pair stylistically with Isaac — useful as middle names or for siblings.
About this entry
Compiled by the Baby Name Finder editorial team following the rules in our Methodology and Editorial guidelines. If you spot an error, please tell us; our corrections policy is at /editorial-guidelines#corrections.
Sources
Last reviewed: 2026-05-31