Skip to content
NomezoNomezo

Boy name · Hebrew

Isaac

Name meaning, origin and popularity

: he will laugh

Isaac is a boy's name that comes from Hebrew and means "he will laugh". It is used in English, Spanish, Hebrew, French and German.

Meaning
He will laugh
Origin
Hebrew
Gender
Boy
US rank
#47 in 2025

Meaning and origin of Isaac

As a boy's name, Isaac comes from Hebrew and means "he will laugh". It is used in English, Spanish, Hebrew, French and German.

In French, say ee-zah-AHK. In Spanish, say ee-sah-AHK. Respellings are a guide; accents vary by region.

Isaac is also a surname: the 1,838th most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 19,157 people. See the most common last names.

Meaning checked against Behind the Name. How we research names

Isaac on Nomezo lists

What our editors wrote about Isaac on 7 lists.

  • “He will laugh; Hebrew. Son of Abraham and Sarah, Genesis”

    From Biblical names, biblical names for boys

  • “He will laugh; Hebrew. Son of Abraham in Genesis”

    From Boy middle names, biblical middle names for boys

  • “He will laugh; Hebrew. Son of Abraham and Sarah”

    From Classic boy names, classic biblical boy names

  • “He will laugh; Hebrew, perfect for a giggly baby”

    From Cute boy names, cute biblical boy names

  • “He will laugh; Hebrew. Say ee-zah-AHK”

    From French boy names, popular French boys' names right now

  • “He will laugh; Hebrew. Son of Abraham and Sarah”

    From Old man names, old fashioned Bible names for boys

  • “He will laugh; Hebrew. Composer Albéniz. Say ee-sah-AHK”

    From Spanish boy names, names of famous Spaniards

How popular is Isaac?

US rank in 2025
#47
5,953 babies, 3,485 per million boys
Best rank
#28 in 2013
Most babies: 10,274 in 2007
Babies since 1880
At least 331,508
Years with under 5 are not listed
1880s1900s1920s1940s1960s1980s2000s2020s
Babies per million US boys, by decade (the 2020s so far, to 2025). Highest in the 2010s, at 5,030 per million.
Babies named Isaac per million US boys, by decade; highest in the 2010s
1880s2,110 per million
1890s1,521 per million
1900s1,207 per million
1910s742 per million
1920s595 per million
1930s446 per million
1940s340 per million
1950s271 per million
1960s239 per million
1970s635 per million
1980s995 per million
1990s2,067 per million
2000s4,547 per million
2010s5,030 per million
2020s3,860 per million
US rank by year
Year2016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Rank#31#32#34#34#39#40#41#42#41#47

Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.

Other forms of Isaac

The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.

  • IkeHe will laugh (Hebrew, boy)
  • IsakHe will laugh (Hebrew, boy)
  • IshaqHe will laugh (Hebrew, boy)
  • YitzhakHe will laugh (Hebrew, boy)

Names spelled like Isaac

One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.

  • IsaGod is salvation (Hebrew, boy)
  • IsaiahYahweh is salvation (Hebrew, boy)
  • IsaíasSalvation of Yahweh (Hebrew, boy)
  • IsamuCourage, bravery (Japanese, boy)
  • IsaoMerit, achievement (depends on characters) (Japanese, boy)
  • IshaanRuler, lord (Sanskrit, boy)
  • IslayFrom the island of Islay (Scottish place name, unisex)

Names with a similar meaning

  • LiamShort for William, will helmet (Germanic, boy)
  • IsmailGod will hear (Hebrew, boy)
  • JosephHe will add (Hebrew, boy)
  • JosephineHe will add (Hebrew, girl)
  • YusufHe will add (Hebrew, boy)
  • EvdokiaGood will (Greek, girl)
  • IosifHe will add (Hebrew, boy)
  • JoséHe will add (Hebrew, boy)
  • AchimGod will raise up (Hebrew, boy)
  • BeppeHe will add (Hebrew, boy)

Middle names for Isaac

Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.

  • BrooksSmall streams (Old English, boy)
  • ElliottMy God is Yahweh (Hebrew, unisex)
  • FrancisFrenchman (Latin, boy)
  • HarrisonSon of Harry (English, boy)
  • HenryHome ruler (Germanic, boy)
  • PeterRock, stone (Greek, boy)
  • TheodoreGift of God (Greek, boy)
  • WayneWagon maker or driver (Old English, boy)

More boy names from Hebrew

  • AdamMan, humankind (Hebrew, boy)
  • DavidBeloved one (Hebrew, boy)
  • DanielGod is my judge (Hebrew, boy)
  • NoahRest, repose (Hebrew, boy)
  • EliasMy God is Yahweh (Hebrew, boy)
  • GabrielGod is my strength (Hebrew, boy)
  • AxelMy father is peace (Hebrew, boy)
  • BenjaminSon of the right hand (Hebrew, boy)
  • JanGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
  • JonathanYahweh has given (Hebrew, boy)

Isaac: common questions

What does the name Isaac mean?

Isaac comes from Hebrew and means "he will laugh". Checked against Behind the Name.

Is Isaac a boy or girl name?

Isaac is mainly a boy's name. In 2025, 10 girls and 5,953 boys in the US were named Isaac, according to Social Security Administration data.

Where does the name Isaac come from?

Isaac comes from Hebrew and means "he will laugh". Today it is used in English, Spanish, Hebrew, French and German.

How popular is the name Isaac?

Isaac ranked #47 in the US in 2025, with 5,953 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

What are other forms of Isaac?

Forms of Isaac with the same meaning and origin include Ike (English), Isak (Scandinavian), Ishaq (Arabic) and Yitzhak (Hebrew).

What middle names go with Isaac?

Middle names that flow well with Isaac include Brooks, Elliott, Francis, Harrison and Henry. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.