How to say it
EYE · zik
ˈaɪ.zək
Masculine
Isaac
He will laugh
What it means
From the Hebrew Yitzhak, meaning 'he will laugh.' Sarah laughed when told she'd have a child at ninety; Isaac's name is that laugh, made permanent.
The biblical Isaac is the son of Abraham, almost sacrificed in the binding-of-Isaac story, then patriarch of Israel through his sons Jacob and Esau. The name moved through Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions (Ishaq is the Arabic form, widely used across Muslim communities). Isaac Newton (1642 to 1727) tied the name to scientific tradition in English memory. The Spanish Isaac is widespread in Latin America and pronounced ee-sahk. Currently US top thirty for boys, often shortened to Ike or Zac.
How to spell Isaac
The standard spelling is Isaac. Common variants include Yitzhak, Ishaq, Isaak, but Isaac is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #28 in 2013, currently #47 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
Ike is the historical short (President Eisenhower) but reads dated to many parents now. Most Isaacs go by Isaac.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Isaac Newton English physicist, gravity and the laws of motion
- Isaac Asimov Sci-fi novelist, Foundation and the Three Laws of Robotics
- Isaac (Bible) Son of Abraham, father of Jacob and Esau
Spelling variants
- Yitzhak
- Ishaq
- Isaak
Names with the same feeling
See Isaac from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Isaac mean?
- From the Hebrew Yitzhak, meaning 'he will laugh.' Sarah laughed when told she'd have a child at ninety; Isaac's name is that laugh, made permanent.
- What does Isaac mean in Hebrew?
- In Hebrew, Isaac means "He will laugh." The biblical Isaac is the son of Abraham, almost sacrificed in the binding-of-Isaac story, then patriarch of Israel through his sons Jacob and Esau. The name moved through Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions (Ishaq is the Arabic form, widely used across Muslim communities). Isaac Newton (1642 to 1727) tied the name to scientific tradition in English memory. The Spanish Isaac is widespread in Latin America and pronounced ee-sahk. Currently US top thirty for boys, often shortened to Ike or Zac.
- How do you pronounce Isaac?
- Isaac is pronounced ˈaɪ.zək. Say it as EYE-zik, with the stress on the "eye" syllable.
- How do you spell Isaac?
- The standard spelling is Isaac. Common spelling variants include Yitzhak, Ishaq, Isaak.
- Is Isaac a boy or girl name?
- Isaac is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Isaac?
- Isaac ranked #47 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.