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Isa

♀ Girl

Pronounced EE-suh /ˈiː.sə/Low

Meaning: Short form of names beginning with Isa- such as Isabel (from Elizabeth, 'God is my oath'); also the Arabic form of Jesus.Low

In 30 seconds: Isa is a short form of names beginning with Isa-, such as Isabel, going back to the sense 'God is my oath'. It is also the Arabic name for Jesus.
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Origin LowGerman, Arabic
MeaningShort form of names beginning with Isa- such as Isabel (from Elizabeth, 'God is my oath'); also the Arabic form of Jesus.
U.S. rank (2024)#1968 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births100 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2018
Total births (all-time)≈ 3,314

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202218802024

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

History & Origin

As a German girl's name, Isa works as a trim short form of longer Isa- names like Isabel, which traces back through Elizabeth to the meaning 'God is my oath'. The same spelling is the Arabic form of Jesus, giving the name two distinct backgrounds. Dutch presenter Isa Hoes and actress Isa Briones are among those who carry it.

Two clean syllables make Isa easy to say across many languages. Its double life as both a European nickname and an Arabic name is part of what gives it such broad reach.

Did you know? Isa carries more than one story: it serves as a short form of Germanic Is- names like Isabel and as the Arabic form of the name Jesus, and that layered background is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 55%
Behind the Name - Isa — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

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Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Isa Hoes (1967–present)
    Female public figure listed on Behind the Name.
  • ★Isa Briones (1999–present)
    Female public figure listed on Behind the Name.

If you like Isa…

Isabel— The longer name Isa most often shortens, source of its 'God is my oath' meaning.
Elizabeth— The ancestor name behind Isa's 'God is my oath' sense.
Isabella— An expanded Isa- name that Isa naturally serves as a short form for.

Frequently Asked

What does the name Isa mean?

Isa has multiple origins: it is a short form of Germanic names beginning with Is- (such as Isabel or Isadora) and an Arabic form of the name Jesus. It is most often linked with German and Arabic tradition.

How do you pronounce Isa?

It's commonly said EE-suh /ˈis.æ/.

Is Isa a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Isa is used as a girl name.

How popular is Isa?

In 2024, Isa ranked #1968 in the U.S. for girls, with 100 births recorded.