UK boy's name
Isaac
A masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning "he will laugh".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Isaac is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Isaac popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #37, with 1,360 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2015, with 2,829 births.
This profile covers 49,129 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 48% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 52,067 living people in the UK are called Isaac. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Isaac ranked #37 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 1,360 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2015, when 2,829 boys were registered as Isaac.
- • Isaac ranks best in North East in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #10 in 2019.
- • About 52,067 living people in the UK are estimated to have Isaac as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#37
2024
Births in 2024
1,360
Latest year
Peak year
2015
2,829 births
Estimated living
52,067
2026
Meaning
What does Isaac mean?
The name Isaac originates from the Hebrew language and can be traced back to ancient biblical times. It is derived from the Hebrew name Yitzchak, which means "he laughs" or "he shall laugh." This name is deeply rooted in the Abrahamic religions, particularly Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
In the Book of Genesis, Isaac is the name given to the son of Abraham and Sarah, who was born when they were already very old. The name was chosen by God as a symbol of the laughter and joy that accompanied his birth. Isaac played a pivotal role in the biblical narrative as the patriarch of the Israelites and the father of Jacob and Esau.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Isaac can be found in the Hebrew Bible, also known as the Old Testament, which dates back to around the 8th century BCE. The name appears frequently throughout the text, particularly in the books of Genesis, Exodus, and Chronicles.
Throughout history, the name Isaac has been borne by numerous notable figures. One of the most famous was Isaac Newton, the English mathematician, physicist, astronomer, and natural philosopher, who lived from 1642 to 1727. His groundbreaking work, including the laws of motion and the universal law of gravitation, laid the foundations for classical mechanics and made him one of the most influential scientists of all time.
Another prominent figure with the name Isaac was Isaac Asimov, the American writer and professor of biochemistry, who lived from 1920 to 1992. He is widely regarded as one of the most prolific and influential science fiction writers of the 20th century, known for his works such as the Foundation series and the Three Laws of Robotics.
In the realm of music, Isaac Stern was a renowned American violinist who lived from 1920 to 2001. He was celebrated for his virtuosic performances and his efforts to promote and preserve classical music. Additionally, Isaac Hayes, the American singer-songwriter and actor, who lived from 1942 to 2008, left an indelible mark on the world of soul music with his iconic songs and soundtracks, including the theme from the film "Shaft."
Another notable bearer of the name was Isaac Bashevis Singer, the Polish-American writer and Nobel Prize laureate, who lived from 1902 to 1991. He was widely recognized for his literary works that explored the Jewish experience and preserved the traditions and folklore of Eastern European Jewish communities.
These are just a few examples of the many notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Isaac, highlighting its enduring popularity and cultural significance across various fields and regions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Isaac over time
The chart below shows babies named Isaac registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Isaac, the clearest high point is 2015. The latest England and Wales figure is 1,360 births in 2024, compared with 2,829 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Isaac by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Isaac was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #27 | 8,666 | 5 |
| 2010s | #26 | 25,186 | 10 |
| 2000s | #56 | 12,892 | 10 |
| 1990s | #92 | 2,385 | 4 |
Geography
Where Isaac is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Isaac. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Isaac ranks best in North East in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #10 in 2019.
Across the UK
Isaac in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#49 in 2024
40 years of NRS records, 1,899 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#26 in 2024
28 years of NISRA records, 1,386 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Isaac
-
Isaac Olaofe
association football player
football player
1999-
-
Isaac Wolfson
entrepreneur
British baronet (1897-1991)
1897-1991
-
Isaac Suwalsky
writer
Hebrew writer (1863–1913)
1863-1913
-
Isaac Wilson
politician
British politician (1822-1899)
1822-1899
-
Isaac Williams
writer; poet; theologian; cleric
Welsh writer
1802-1865
-
Isaac Wood
Anglican priest
English cleric
1795-1865
-
Isaac Newton Wigney
politician; banker
British politician
1795-1844
-
Isaac of Stella
writer; Catholic priest; religious; philosopher
English-French theologian
1110-1178
Related
Names similar to Isaac
- Ibrahim 14,115
- Ismail 4,679
- Isaiah 4,629
- Idris 3,810
- Ivan 3,146
- Isa 2,943
- Ian 2,805
- Ilyas 2,552
- Ieuan 2,515
- Ibraheem 2,384
- Ioan 2,295
- Imran 2,176
FAQ
Isaac: questions and answers
How popular is the name Isaac in the UK right now?
In 2024, Isaac was ranked #37 for boys in England and Wales, with 1,360 births registered.
When was Isaac most popular?
The peak year on record was 2015, with 2,829 babies registered as Isaac in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Isaac?
A masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning "he will laugh".
How many people are called Isaac in the UK?
A total of 49,129 babies have been registered as Isaac across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 1,899 more in Scotland and 1,386 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Isaac most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Isaac ranks best in North East, where it placed #10 in 2019. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.