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Isaiah

♂ Boy

Pronounced eye-ZAY-uh /aɪˈzeɪə/High

Meaning: God is salvation; Yahweh saves — from Hebrew Yeshayahu (yasha: to save + Yah: God)High

In 30 seconds: A powerful Hebrew prophetic name meaning 'God is salvation.' One of the major prophets of the Hebrew Bible, Isaiah has become one of the top boys' names in the U.S.
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Origin HighHebrew
MeaningGod is salvation; Yahweh saves — from Hebrew Yeshayahu (yasha: to save + Yah: God)
Peak year2006
Total births (all-time)≈ 207,627

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200618802017

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Isaiah comes from the Hebrew Yeshayahu, meaning 'Yahweh saves' or 'God is salvation,' from yasha (to save, deliver) and Yah (a shortened form of Yahweh). Isaiah son of Amoz was one of the major Hebrew prophets, active in Jerusalem in the 8th century BC. His book is the longest of the prophetic books and is extensively quoted in the New Testament.

Isaiah was occasionally used in the English-speaking world from the 17th century onward but remained uncommon until the late 20th century. It entered the U.S. top 100 boys' names in the 1990s and the top 50 by the 2000s, where it has remained. Today it is one of the most fashionable Biblical boys' names, appealing for its strong meaning, musical sound, and distinguished prophetic heritage.

Did you know? The Book of Isaiah contains the famous messianic prophecy 'a virgin shall conceive' (Isaiah 7:14), one of the most quoted Old Testament passages in the New Testament, giving the name enormous theological significance.

Variations

IsaiasJesaiah

Nicknames

IkeZay

Famous Bearers

  • ★Isaiah Thomas (1989–)
    American professional basketball player, known for his tenure with the Boston Celtics.

If you like Isaiah…

Elijah— fellow major Hebrew prophet name in the U.S. top 10
Ezekiel— another substantial Old Testament prophet name in the same modern-revival tier
Josiah— Hebrew king-name with the same strong yasha root and prophetic resonance
Micah— shorter Hebrew prophet name with the same Old Testament depth

Frequently Asked

What does the name Isaiah mean?

Isaiah is a Hebrew name meaning 'God is salvation' or 'Yahweh saves,' from yasha (to save) and Yah (God).

How do you pronounce Isaiah?

It's said eye-ZAY-uh /aɪˈzeɪə/ — three syllables, stress on the second.

Is Isaiah a boy or girl name?

Isaiah is used exclusively as a boys' name.

How popular is Isaiah?

Isaiah has ranked in the U.S. top 50 boys' names since the 2000s, riding a strong Biblical name revival.