Isaac Baby boy name meaning, origin, and popularity

Derived from the Hebrew Yitzhak, Isaac means "he will laugh." Isaac is a classic, biblical name with a rich history. In the Bible, Isaac is one of the three patriarchs of the Israelites. He's the son of the elderly Sarah and Abraham. Fun fact: The name is thought to have gained its meaning because news of Abraham and Sarah having a child at such an old age evoked laughter.

While the name Isaac is significant to those of the Christian and Jewish faiths, it's also a common name among Muslims. In the Quran, Isaac is mentioned 15 times.

This strong, two-syllable name is pronounced "EYE-zik." It's most commonly spelled Isaac, but you may occasionally see it spelled Izaak or Isaak. Possible nicknames include Ike, Ikey, and Ise. Similar boy names that start with I include Ivan, Isaiah, Irwin, and Ismael.

Isaac was a common name in the early 20th century, but then dipped in popularity for many years. In the 1990s, Isaac jumped back into the top 100 boy names in the United States. It has continued its rise and has been in the top 50 boy names on the Social Security Administration list since 2013.

BabyCenter parents are also fans of this name, ranking it in the top 100 boy names since 2019. (BabyCenter's ranking is based on data from hundreds of thousands of parents who share their baby's name with us.)

Given Isaac's rich history and modern appeal, as well as its religious significance, you can expect to see Isaac on top baby name charts for many years to come.