ChristianNames.org Saved

Name at a glance

Isaiah

Isaiah is a Hebrew name commonly understood as the LORD is salvation.

Ranked #57 in US baby names in 2025, stable over the past 5 years.

Isaiah is one of the major prophets and is especially important in Christian readings of holiness, comfort, messianic hope, and salvation.

Browse names
OriginHebrew
GenderBoy
FeelProphetic
Pronunciationeye-ZAY-uh

Is Isaiah biblical?

Yes

Biblical status Direct biblical person

Isaiah is a named person in Scripture, a major eighth-century BC prophet of Judah.

Is Isaiah a Christian name?

Yes

Christian tradition Foundational, across traditions

Isaiah carries deep cross-tradition Christian importance through its liturgical use in Advent and frequent New Testament citation, and the prophet is commemorated in Orthodox and Catholic calendars.

Plain answer

Isaiah is a major biblical prophet's name with deep cross-tradition Christian importance through liturgy, messianic reading, and prophet veneration.

Confidence Moderate Last reviewed July 19, 2026 How this works

Meaning

The meaning of Isaiah

Isaiah comes from a Hebrew prophetic name meaning the LORD is salvation. The meaning aligns closely with the book's major themes of judgment, restoration, comfort, and hope.

Name story

A prophet of holiness and hope

Isaiah is not a light biblical association. The book bearing his name speaks with grandeur about God's holiness, human pride, judgment, comfort, and future restoration.

The name can therefore feel both beautiful and weighty. It is a salvation name with prophetic depth.

Christian reading

Why Isaiah matters to Christians

Christians often return to Isaiah because the New Testament quotes and echoes it frequently. Passages about comfort, the servant, light, and good news have shaped Christian worship and theology.

As a baby name, Isaiah carries a strong scriptural identity while remaining familiar in modern use.

Sound

How to pronounce Isaiah

Phonetic
eye-ZAY-uh
IPA
/aɪˈzeɪə/

3 syllables · stress: eye-ZAY-uh · ends in a vowel

Forms

Variants and nicknames

Alternate spellings

  • Isaias
  • Yeshayahu
  • Izaiah
  • Esaias

Short forms and nicknames

  • Izzy
  • Sai

Languages

Isaiah in other languages

Hebrew
יְשַׁעְיָהוּYeshayahu
Greek
ἨσαΐαςĒsaias
Latin
Isaias
Spanish
Isaías
French
Isaïe
German
Jesaja
Italian
Isaia
Russian
ИсаияIsaiya
Arabic
شَعْيَاShaʿya

Christian background

Christian and biblical background

Isaiah has deep Christian importance because many passages from the book are read in connection with Advent, the ministry of Jesus, and the hope of salvation. For more on prophet names in the Bible and the prophetic tradition, see Biblical prophet names.

Scripture

The biblical figure

Isaiah is a major Old Testament prophet associated with Judah, Jerusalem, holiness, warning, comfort, and future hope.

Bearers

Notable people named Isaiah

  • biblical

    IsaiahMajor prophet of the eighth century BC whose oracles speak of holiness, judgment, and the comfort and restoration of Israel

  • historical

    Isaiah ThomasAmerican printer and patriot, founder of the American Antiquarian Society, 1749 to 1831

  • historical

    Isaiah BerlinLatvian-born British philosopher and historian of ideas, best known for Two Concepts of Liberty, 1909 to 1997

  • modern

    Isaiah WashingtonAmerican actor known for Grey's Anatomy, born 1963

  • modern

    Isaiah Thomas (basketball)American NBA point guard, two-time All-Star, born 1989

Saint

Holy Prophet Isaiah

Traditions
Orthodox, Catholic

Naming history

Naming tradition and history

Isaiah has become a well-loved biblical name in English. It has a poetic sound, a clear prophetic identity, and a meaning that gives it devotional depth.

Recent US use

Isaiah in recent US use

Rank in 2025
#57
Peak rank
#39 in 2006
Recent trend
stable 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

Phonetic neighbours

Names that sound similar to Isaiah

  • Jeremiah · Four-syllable Hebrew prophet name with the same -iah ending and prophetic register; differs in initial vowel pattern.
  • Nehemiah · Four-syllable Hebrew restoration-era name; same -iah ending; quieter consonants throughout.
  • Elijah · Three-syllable Hebrew prophet name; shorter rhythm than Isaiah but identical -iah ending.

For families

For families looking at Isaiah

Isaiah may appeal to parents who want a strong biblical name that feels lyrical rather than severe. It carries the language of salvation, vision, and hope.

Common questions

What does Isaiah mean?

Isaiah means the LORD is salvation.

Is Isaiah a biblical name?

Yes. Isaiah is one of the major prophets of the Old Testament.

Why is Isaiah important to Christians?

Christians often read Isaiah in connection with messianic hope, comfort, salvation, and the ministry of Jesus.

Sources

Sources for Isaiah

  • A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament, Brown, Driver, and BriggsSupports: Hebrew etymology; meaning 'the LORD is salvation'.
  • The Book of Isaiah, King James Version (KJV 1769)Supports: biblical prophet; major prophet of Judah.
  • The Oxford Dictionary of Saints, David Hugh Farmer (5th edition)Supports: Holy Prophet Isaiah; feast day (May 9).

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

Read next

Related names

JeremiahBoth are major writing prophets of pre-exilic Judah; Isaiah in the eighth century, Jeremiah in the late seventh through the exile.JoelBoth prophetic names center on direct theological claims ('the LORD is salvation' / 'the LORD is God'); both books speak of the Day of the LORD.EmmanuelIsaiah 7:14 is the source of the Emmanuel prophecy; the name Emmanuel is theologically inseparable from Isaiah's book.EzekielBoth are major writing prophets; Ezekiel addresses the exile that Isaiah's later chapters anticipate (Isaiah 40-55).