Name of the Day: Isaac

He’s Biblical, his meaning is fabulous and distinguished bearers can be found in nearly any field.

Thanks to Corinne for suggesting Isaac as Name of the Day.

Isaac has much to recommend him. From the Hebrew tzahaq, it means “he laughs” – a joyful meaning for your baby boy. It also helps balance the story of the Binding of Isaac. That’s the Biblical tale about Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his only son. (If you don’t recall your Old Testament, never fear. It was only a test. Isaac descended the mountaintop unscathed and went on to father Esau and Jacob.)

In fact, Isaac became a patriarch, and his story had sequels in both the New Testament and the Qur’an. This means the name works across linguistic and cultural barriers – a real bonus for many families.

The seventh-century Isaac of Nineveh is remembered as a theologian, and counted among the saints of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

In English, he was one of many names rediscovered following the Protestant Reformation, and a steady stream of notable Isaacs appears in the historical record from the seventeenth century onward:

Science’s Sir Isaac Newton, born in 1643;
Two early 19th century Americans, both called Isaac Smith, served in the US House of Representatives – one from New Jersey, one from Pennsylvania;
19th century inventor, Isaac Singer, he of sewing machine fame;
Spanish submarine innovator, Isaac Peral;
Former governor-general of Australia, Isaac Isaacs;
20th century sci fi legend Isaac Asimov;
Legendary violinists Itzhak Perlman and Isaac Stern;
Israeli prime ministers Yitzhak Rabin and Yitzhak Shamir;
Rock’n’Roll Hall of Famer and Academy Award winning singer-songwriter Isaac Hayes – also known as South Park’s Chef;
Alt rock’s Isaac Slade (of The Fray) and Isaac Brock (of Modest Mouse);
Designer-turned-television-personality Isaac Mizrahi.

The list goes on and on.

And on.

And therein lies the problem. While you might not have grown up with an Isaac – the name was at a low point in popularity during the 1960s and 70s, bottoming out at #364 in 1962 – that’s the exception.

For most of the past four centuries or so, Isaac has enjoyed fairly steady use. In most decades, Isaac was more popular than current favorites like Elijah, Isaiah and Noah. He’s risen again with the current wave of Biblical baby names, reaching #37 in 2008.

While Isaac doesn’t require a nickname, some parents have opted to use Isaac as a means to get the nickname Zac or Zach. (But, of course, with Zachary a Top 20 pick in recent years, that makes your son’s name sound ever more popular.)

If Isaac appeals, but you’re looking for a less common nickname, you might like Ike. While the most famous 20th century Ike was a Dwight, it is a traditional diminutive for Isaac.

It’s easy to like Isaac – there’s his z-sound, his interesting-but-legitimate “aa” spelling. He’s not Jacob or Joshua, Jayden or Aiden. But Isaac was bestowed upon nearly 10,000 newborn baby boys in 2008 alone.

So if you’re looking for a classic, enduring Biblical choice with a great meaning and appealing sound, Isaac is for you. Just keep in mind that many, many other parents will share your good taste.

24 thoughts on “Name of the Day: Isaac”

This is another one of those too-Jewish-for-me names. Oh well. Bring on the next one!

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Isaac is nice. Probably more common than what we’re aiming for, but an all-around good choice. That’s the tough thing with boys’ names. So many of the good, strong, traditional-sounding ones have been so heavily used over the years. And the ones that sound a bit fresher to our ears, like Isaac or Ethan or Caleb, are coming into heavy use again now.

By the way, we found out yesterday that we’re expecting a little boy in January. We haven’t come anywhere close to settling on a boys’ name yet … but that means we still have a few months of naming fun ahead of us!

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appellationmountain on August 13, 2009 at 9:07 pm said:

How fabulous – congrats! We do have a bumper crop of boys here, don’t we?

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charlottevera on August 13, 2009 at 9:52 pm said:

Congratulations, Emmy Jo! It seems like almost everyone I know or have heard of is producing little boys — it’s fascinating seeing the names being chosen and I’m excited to find out what you and your husband select.

In relation to this post, a friend of mine who just had a baby in February named her little guy Isaac (a cousin to her sister’s Isaiah).

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Congrats, Emmy Jo! (we also found out we’re having a boy yesterday)

And you said it about boy names – the traditional ones are attractive, but very well used and the fresher sounding ones are coming back en vogue. Back when I first cracked the spine on the baby naming book I had found on my parents’ book shelf, Isaac was my absolute favorite boy name… and in the 80s it was rather rare. Now it’s not really on the list, but we’re struggling to populate a list that both my husband and I can live with.

Isaac is a lovely name and Ike is a fun option for a nickname, but I’m not sure it’s for my personal use… still, I think it’s a great option for others’ kids. (It also beats my daughter’s thoughts on naming her baby brother – her suggestions: Baby and Julia.)

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Emmy Jo on August 13, 2009 at 9:29 pm said:

Congratulations to you, too! I’d love to see your current list.

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Nice suggestions from Imogen!

And yes, boys’ names? Much harder, I think. Or maybe just much more likely to be veto’d by my husband …

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I have never been a fan nor have I ever understood the appeal. I find the sound harsh and its very trendy.

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Isaac used to my all time favourite, then I realised just how popular it had become.
Popularity really puts me off names and sadly means I won’t use Isaac, although I don’t think it’s quite as popular over here yet however I could be wrong.
On a side note I met a Mungo the other day at work, he was about 12 and I was dying to ask his sisters name. Such a strange name for a person…

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I like Ike pretty well. Another bearer is Isaac Bashevis Singer, a Jewish writer. He won a Pulitzer or Nobel or something!
Isaac is a name that, like John or James, can’t really get tired out; it can sound comfortably worn but not overused. A wonderful name for anyone who chooses it, I think!
And congratulations, mommy-of-a-boy-to-be Emmy Jo!

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Isaac is so cool. I especially love the meaning. I’d use the nickname Ziggy… though it’s probably too popular for me, anyway.

Congratulations on your boys! Boys are too fun! Everyone I know is having boys, too. It must be in the air.

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It’s funny to me that Isaac was an uncommon name in the 70′s as there were at least 3 in my high school (small Minnesota parochial school.) We also had Nathans, Elijahs, Ruebens and Jacobs all born around 1972-74. I’d like to think our parents were just ahead of the curb, but more likely it was all influenced by a minister who named his own sons Nathanael, Jeremiah and Zechariah.

Anyways, Isaac to my ear is a “Dad” name, but it has such a pleasant meaning I would have no objections if a friend was considering it their baby.

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Too steeped in religion for my taste, but I do see the appeal. Mizrahi definitely ups the cool factor for me, but I’m betting most fathers-to-be might not be as impressed.

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Yay Isaac! Isaac is fully a middle name for me: it’s too Hebrew to go with the rest of my very-Celtic list.

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LOVE the name, but I’m biased — we named our son Isaac, born in 2008! Hehe.

You bring up great points to consider when naming your child. Two you may think of adding to your repertoire is “culture/ethnicity,” and/or “gender”. Though Isaac is a popular in the U.S., we thought it would still be a fairly unique name choice for our son as he is Vietnamese-and-Korean American. How many kids do you know who are named Isaac and are Asian??

In the early stages of my pregnancy I was considering the name Jordan but was told it was a “girl’s name” (?). The only Jordans I’ve known are boys, but apparently it’s now being used left and right as a modern-day girl’s name! ;/ Like you mentioned, name popularity (and usage, too!) changes over time.

My NofD suggestion is my first name choice (and still is my fave): DAMIAN. Still have my heart set on naming my son that one day, too…

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