UK boy's name
Ishak
A masculine name meaning "he will laugh" or "he laughs", derived from Hebrew.
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.
Ishak is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Ishak popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3688, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2013, with 8 births.
This profile covers 114 England and Wales registrations across 23 recorded years from 1999 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, 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 63% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 113 living people in the UK are called Ishak. 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
- • Ishak ranked #3688 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2013, when 8 boys were registered as Ishak.
- • About 113 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ishak as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3688
2024
Births in 2024
5
Latest year
Peak year
2013
8 births
Estimated living
113
2026
Meaning
What does Ishak mean?
The name Ishak has its origins in the Arabic language and culture, and it is a variant spelling of the biblical name Isaac. The name is derived from the Hebrew root word "yitshaq," which means "he laughs" or "he rejoices." This name has been in use for centuries and has been recorded in various historical texts and religious scriptures.
The Bible, both in the Old Testament and the New Testament, mentions the name Isaac as the son of Abraham and Sarah. Isaac is an important figure in the Abrahamic religions, and his name is revered by Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike. The Quran also mentions the name Ishaq (the Arabic spelling of Isaac) as a prophet and a righteous servant of God.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ishak can be found in the works of the 9th-century Islamic scholar and historian, Al-Tabari. His book, "Tarikh al-Rusul wa al-Muluk" (History of Prophets and Kings), contains references to Ishak as the son of the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham).
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Ishak. One of the most famous was Ishak ibn Hunayn, a 9th-century Arab scholar and physician who lived in Baghdad during the Islamic Golden Age. He was renowned for his translations of Greek medical texts into Arabic and for his contributions to the fields of medicine and philosophy.
Another prominent figure was Ishak al-Mawsili, an Arab musician and singer who lived in the 8th century. He is considered one of the greatest musicians of the Abbasid period and is credited with developing the systematic theory of music in the Islamic world.
In the realm of literature, Ishak al-Tawil was a 10th-century Arab poet and writer from Baghdad. His works, which included poetry and prose, were highly influential and widely celebrated during his lifetime.
The name Ishak also appears in the annals of Islamic jurisprudence. Ishak ibn Rahwayh, a 9th-century Islamic scholar and jurist from Nishapur, Iran, was a prominent figure in the study and interpretation of Islamic law and traditions.
Lastly, Ishak Pasha was a 16th-century Ottoman statesman and grand vizier who served under Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. He was renowned for his military campaigns and his contributions to the expansion and administration of the Ottoman Empire.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Ishak over time
The chart below shows babies named Ishak registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1999 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 Ishak, the clearest high point is 2013. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2024, compared with 8 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ishak by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ishak 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 | #3158 | 24 | 4 |
| 2010s | #3316 | 56 | 10 |
| 2000s | #3559 | 30 | 8 |
| 1990s | #2425 | 4 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Ishak
- Isaac 49,129
- 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
FAQ
Ishak: questions and answers
How popular is the name Ishak in the UK right now?
In 2024, Ishak was ranked #3688 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Ishak most popular?
The peak year on record was 2013, with 8 babies registered as Ishak in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Ishak?
A masculine name meaning "he will laugh" or "he laughs", derived from Hebrew.
How many people are called Ishak in the UK?
A total of 114 babies have been registered as Ishak across the 23 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
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.