Issa - A very unique male name
Issa at a glance
Issa is ranked #1751 among boy baby names in 2025, with 47 births in 2025. It peaked in 2024 at #1480 and first appeared on the charts in 1983.
- Rank in 2025
- #1751
- Births in 2025
- 47
- Peak year
- 2024 (#1480)
- First appeared
- 1983
- Trend
- #1766 in 2020 → #1751 in 2025 (Rising)
- Popularity
- 1 in 31,198 boys
- Visitor rating
- 4.4/5 (7 recent votes)
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration · Data through 2025 · Updated 2026
With that position 1 in 31,198 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Issa peaked in popularity 2 years ago in 2024 on position 1480.
Famous with this name
Issa Rae
Issa Doumbia
Issa Issa
How would you rate Issa, 1-5?
Issa is currently topping the charts in...
Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Issa is currently topping the baby name charts in Michigan at position #613 - and is the least popular in California at position #2,310.Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Issa is where you live.
Comment and discuss
Issa origin and meaning
Arabic
The Arabic name 'Isa, the Quranic name of Jesus; ultimately from Hebrew Yeshua, 'God saves' (the derivation through Aramaic is traditional)
Issa, spelled with double s in much West and East African and diaspora use, is the Arabic name of Jesus, honoured in Islam as a prophet. For boys in America it has risen notably, peaking in 2023. It should not be confused with Issa Rae, a woman whose Issa is short for Jo-Issa — a different gender and a different name story, so she is not a bearer here.
Attested etymology
Issa is a 4 letter name with 2 syllables.
To see famous people named Issa, pop culture references for the name Issa and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.Similar to Issa
We've found the following names that sound similar to Issa, sorted by popularity.
Isaac / Isaiah / Isiah / Issac / Isaias / Izaiah / Isai / Izayah / Isaak / Ike /Name statistics
Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better
understanding of how popular or unique this name is.
With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually
differ a lot from state to state.
Chart position per year (visualized)
Chart position per state (visualized)
Chart position per year (table view)
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 1751 |
| 2024 | 1480 |
| 2023 | 1482 |
| 2022 | 1578 |
| 2021 | 1682 |
| 2020 | 1766 |
| 2019 | 1926 |
| 2018 | 1610 |
| 2017 | 2009 |
| 2016 | 1817 |
| 2015 | 2188 |
| 2014 | 1836 |
| 2013 | 2018 |
| 2012 | 1863 |
| 2011 | 2269 |
| 2010 | 2061 |
| 2009 | 2868 |
| 2008 | 2275 |
| 2007 | 1747 |
| 2006 | 2446 |
| 2005 | 1842 |
| 2004 | 2334 |
| 2003 | 1940 |
| 2002 | 2322 |
| 2001 | 2482 |
| 2000 | 3550 |
| 1999 | 2044 |
| 1998 | 2323 |
| 1997 | 2560 |
| 1996 | 2909 |
| 1995 | 2266 |
| 1994 | 2943 |
| 1993 | 2889 |
| 1992 | 3266 |
| 1991 | 2853 |
| 1990 | 2115 |
| 1989 | 2266 |
| 1983 | 2114 |
Chart position per state (table view)
| State | Rank |
|---|---|
| Michigan | 613 |
| Ohio | 973 |
| New York | 1078 |
| Texas | 1811 |
| California | 2310 |
Even more about Issa
These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.
Is Issa a common or unique name?
By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.What is the number of syllables for the name Issa?
2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.Pronunciation
EE-sah · /ˈiːsə/
Around the world
No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.
Spellings and nicknames
- Isa — The more common transliteration of the same name
- Eesa — A variant transliteration
Famous bearers
- Issa Diop — French professional footballer, a Premier League defender (b. 1997) Contemporary
Style
InternationalBiblical
Why parents choose it
The Quranic name of Jesus in its African-diaspora spelling, brief and internationally travelled.
Worth knowing
- Many Americans will think first of Issa Rae (female, and a different derivation) or read it as a girl's name.
