unisex name · in the US
Isa
EE-suh (English)
- Origin Arabic, Spanish
- Gender Unisex (US)
- Syllables 2
- Letters 3
- Popularity Top 1000 (US)
- Births on record 11,406
the United States
#931
2025 births
Isa is a unisex name with two main origins. In Arabic it's ʿĪsā, the Quranic name of Jesus, used widely for Muslim boys. In European use it's a short form of Isabel or Isabella, given to girls, so two separate names share one spelling.
- Isa is a name of Arabic, Spanish origin.
- Peaked in 2025, when 372 babies were given the name.
- It has been rising over the past decade.
- Today about 1 in 8,912 babies in the United States is given this name.
- Isa started out as a girls' name and is now given almost entirely to boys.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Isa Over Time
Births per decade in the United States, 1880s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2025.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 129 |
| 1890s | 142 |
| 1900s | 124 |
| 1910s | 182 |
| 1920s | 161 |
| 1930s | 117 |
| 1940s | 83 |
| 1950s | 74 |
| 1960s | 145 |
| 1970s | 278 |
| 1980s | 328 |
| 1990s | 420 |
| 2000s | 939 |
| 2010s | 1,820 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 1,633 |
What Isa Means
Isa, the Arabic name, carries the sense of Jesus, whose Hebrew name means God saves. As a European short form, it takes the meaning of Isabel, which is a form of Elizabeth, God is my oath.
Where Isa Comes From
The Quran names Jesus as ʿĪsā, a prophet honored in Islam. Scholars debate how that form came from Hebrew Yeshua or Aramaic Yeshu, with Wikipedia noting a polemical Jewish form among the proposals. Muslim families use it as a mark of respect, and it's found in Turkey, Bosnia, the Arab world and South Asia, as well as in Muslim communities in Scotland and England. The European Isa is separate, a clipped form of Isabel. It's a familiar pet name in several European languages, and that spelling is sometimes given as a full name.
Isa in Use
Pronunciation marks the difference: Arabic stresses EE-sah, while English speakers might say EYE-suh. Its unisex status comes from these separate histories.
How Popular Is Isa?
In 2025, Isa was given to 372 babies in the United States, ranking #931 that year. It ranks among the top 1,000 names in the United States.
Where Isa Is Used
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
Names That Peaked Alongside Isa
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Isa Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Isa over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
Boys' or Girls' Name?
Isa is used differently depending on where you are. Each figure is the share of babies given the name who were girls, over the last ten years of that country's records.
- United States Both 38% girls · 2,477 babies
- England & Wales Boys' 2% girls · 1,406 babies
- Canada Boys' 10% girls · 504 babies
- France Both 13% girls · 200 babies
How to Say Isa
- English EE-suh
Isa in Other Languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling Names for Isa
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Isa — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Isa
What does the name Isa mean?
In Arabic it's the name of Jesus. In Europe it's a short form of Isabel.
Is Isa a boy's or a girl's name?
It's unisex, with separate roots for each.
Is Isa a Muslim name?
In its Arabic form, yes.
How popular is the name Isa?
In 2025, Isa was given to 372 babies in the United States, ranking #931 that year. It ranks among the top 1,000 names in the United States.
How many syllables are in Isa?
Isa has 2 syllables.
When was Isa most popular?
Isa peaked in 2025, when 372 babies were given the name. It has been rising over the past decade.
Is Isa a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Isa currently ranks #238 in the United States. It has been rising over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.