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Name at a glance

Isaac

Isaac is a Hebrew name usually understood as he laughs or laughter.

Ranked #47 in US baby names in 2025, declining over the past 5 years.

Isaac is remembered as the child of promise born to Abraham and Sarah, making the name deeply connected with covenant, waiting, joy, and God's faithfulness.

Browse namesRead Isaac's story
OriginHebrew
GenderBoy
FeelPromise
PronunciationEYE-zak

Is Isaac biblical?

Yes

Biblical status Direct biblical person

Isaac is a named person in Scripture, the son of Abraham and Sarah and the second patriarch in Genesis.

Is Isaac a Christian name?

Yes

Christian tradition Foundational, across traditions

Isaac has been used for centuries across Jewish and Christian communities, anchored in the patriarchal triad ('God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob') and New Testament typology of promise and covenant.

Plain answer

Isaac is a biblical patriarch's name and a foundational Christian name used for centuries across major traditions.

Confidence High Last reviewed July 19, 2026 How this works

Meaning

The meaning of Isaac

Isaac comes from the Hebrew name Yitzchaq, commonly explained as he laughs or laughter. In Genesis, the meaning is part of the story because Abraham and Sarah both laugh around the promise of a son in their old age.

Name story

A name born from impossible joy

Isaac is not simply a pleasant-sounding patriarchal name. In Genesis, it is tied to a promise that seemed impossible, a long season of waiting, and the surprising joy of a child born to Abraham and Sarah.

The laughter in Isaac's name can carry more than one shade of meaning. It remembers human surprise and uncertainty, but it also becomes a sign of joy when God's promise is fulfilled.

Biblical arc

The quiet patriarch

Isaac stands between Abraham and Jacob in the patriarchal story. His life is quieter than theirs, yet his place is essential because the covenant line continues through him.

For Christian readers, Isaac often suggests promise received rather than achievement won. The name feels gentle, faithful, and rooted in the long story of God's provision.

Sound

How to pronounce Isaac

Phonetic
EYE-zak
IPA
/ˈaɪzək/

2 syllables · stress: EYE-zak · ends in a consonant

Forms

Variants and nicknames

Alternate spellings

  • Izaak
  • Isak
  • Yitzhak
  • Itzhak
  • Ishaq

Short forms and nicknames

  • Ike
  • Izzy
  • Zac

Languages

Isaac in other languages

Hebrew
יִצְחָקYitzchak
Greek
ἸσαάκIsaak
Latin
Isaac
Spanish
Isaac
French
Isaac
German
Isaak
Italian
Isacco
Russian
ИсаакIsaak
Arabic
إِسْحَاقIshaq

Christian background

Christian and biblical background

Isaac matters in Christian tradition because his birth displays God's faithfulness to Abraham and Sarah. The New Testament also reflects on the promise made through Isaac when discussing faith, covenant, and God's purposes.

Scripture

The biblical figure

Isaac is the son of Abraham and Sarah, the husband of Rebekah, and the father of Jacob and Esau. His story belongs to the foundation of Israel's patriarchal history.

Read the full story of Isaac in the Bible

Bearers

Notable people named Isaac

  • biblical

    IsaacSon of Abraham and Sarah in Genesis, the child of promise and second of the patriarchs

  • historical

    Isaac NewtonEnglish physicist and mathematician, author of the Principia Mathematica, 1643 to 1727

  • historical

    Isaac WattsEnglish Congregationalist minister and hymn-writer of Joy to the World and When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, 1674 to 1748

  • historical

    Isaac AsimovRussian-born American writer of science fiction and popular science, 1920 to 1992

  • historical

    Isaac Bashevis SingerPolish-American Yiddish writer, Nobel laureate, 1903 to 1991

  • modern

    Itzhak PerlmanIsraeli-American violinist, born 1945

Naming history

Naming tradition and history

Isaac has been used for centuries in Jewish and Christian communities. In English it feels biblical, intelligent, and warm, with enough familiarity for everyday use and enough depth for families who want an Old Testament name with substance.

Recent US use

Isaac in recent US use

Rank in 2025
#47
Peak rank
#28 in 2013
Recent trend
declining over the last 5 years
Years in the SSA records
146 (since 1880)

Source: US Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880-2025.

Sibling fit

Sibling name suggestions

Pairings

Names paired with Isaac

  • Rebekahwife

    Rebekah becomes Isaac's wife in Genesis 24 after Abraham's servant brings her from Aram; she later bears Esau and Jacob.

  • Abrahamfather

    Isaac is the son of promise born to Abraham and Sarah in their old age.

  • Sarahmother

    Sarah is Isaac's mother, conceiving him at ninety after lifelong barrenness; her laughter at the angel's announcement (Genesis 18:12) becomes the inline explanation of Isaac's name ('he laughs').

For families

For families looking at Isaac

For a Christian family, Isaac may appeal because it combines joy and gravity. It is a recognizable biblical name with a hopeful meaning, especially for parents drawn to stories of promise, patience, and answered prayer.

Common questions

What does Isaac mean?

Isaac is usually understood to mean he laughs or laughter.

Is Isaac a biblical name?

Yes. Isaac is the son of Abraham and Sarah in Genesis.

Is Isaac a Christian name?

Yes. Christians have long used Isaac because of its place in the biblical story of promise and covenant.

Sources

Sources for Isaac

  • A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament, Brown, Driver, and BriggsSupports: Hebrew etymology; meaning 'he laughs' or 'laughter'.
  • The Book of Genesis, King James Version (KJV 1769)Supports: biblical figure; son of Abraham and Sarah, second patriarch.

Last reviewed July 19, 2026. See our methodology, or report an error on the corrections page.

Read next

Related names

AbrahamIsaac's father; the binding of Isaac in Genesis 22 is the foundational moment that pairs the two names in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic memory.JacobIsaac's younger twin son who carries the covenant line through deception and reconciliation (Genesis 25-28).JosephIsaac's grandson through Jacob; the line of promise from Abraham to Isaac to Jacob to Joseph forms the spine of Genesis 12-50.