Baby Name of the Day: Isidore

The baby name Isidore could fit right in with long, traditional favorites for boys, from Theodore to Benedict, Sebastian to Isaiah.

Thanks to Elizabeth G for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.

WHAT DOES THE NAME ISIDORE MEAN?

Isidore comes from the Greek name Isidoros. It means “gift of Isis.” 

While Isis has a very different meaning today, for most of human history, it referred to an Egyptian goddess. The Greek doron means gift; it’s the same element in Theodore, Dorothy, and all of their many cousins.

It became Isidorus in Latin.

While this name connects to an ancient goddess, we tend to think of it in a distinctly Christian context.

SAINT ISIDORE OF SEVILLE

Enter Saint Isidore of Seville. 

Born in sixth century Spain, the theologian bridged the classical and medieval worlds. 

Along with his brother Leander, Isidore helped convert the Visigothic rulers of Spain. (They were Christians, but not Isidore’s kind of Christian. More on that in a minute.)

His parents were prominent Hispano-Roman aristocrats and Christians. Besides Leander and Isidore, his siblings Fulgentis and Florentina are also considered saints.  

But it’s Isidore that we remember, thanks to his Etymologiae, an encyclopedia that cobbled together classical learning and preserved it for future generations. His goal? To record all knowledge of the time. At 20 volumes, 448 chapters, maybe he got close.

Grammar fans, take note. It’s Isidore’s work that gave us the period, comma, and colon as we know them today.

Back to theology. Leander served as Bishop of Seville. On his death, Isidore succeeded him.

In 619, Isidore presided over the Second Synod of Seville. The synod explained the nature of Christ, a topic that had been debated for hundreds of years at this point. 

So he’s a heavy hitter, influential in the early medieval church and instrumental in preserving knowledge across generations.

Also true: Isidore’s views on Judaism reflected the Christian biases of his time.

SAINT ISIDORE THE FARMER

Besides St Isidore of Seville, there’s also a second saint sharing the name. Known as Isidore the Farmer in English, he lived in medieval Madrid around the year 1100. In Spanish, he’s known as San Isidro Labrador.

Named for the sixth century saint, this Isidore was born into humble circumstances. Despite working as a farm laborer with limited means, he was known for his generosity and devout faith.

ISIDORE IN AMERICA

Here’s a twist. Through the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Isidor, Isidore, and Isador were used among Jewish-American families as the equivalents of Hebrew names like Isaac, Israel, and Isaiah.

So the saintly Catholic name became more conventionally Jewish.

The most famous figure is probably Isidor Strauss, known as a co-owner of department store Macy’s. He lost his life in the sinking of the Titanic. Many wealthy passengers survived. Isidor, however, refused to enter a lifeboat while women and children were being boarded. His wife, Ida, declined to leave without her husband. She handed her fur coat to her maid, insisted her maid board a lifeboat, and then the couple went down with the ship, together. 

And actually? Isadore, in particular, was more popular than some of those Hebrew origin I names around the turn of the twentieth century.

HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME ISIDORE?

As of 2023, 

• Spanish-language version Isidro was given to 77 boys
• Another 34 boys received the dominant English spelling, Isidore
• 14 were named Isidor.
• Ten were called Isadore. It’s less Isis, more “adore” and possibly appealing for that reason.
• Nine were named Isidoro, the Italian form.

Nickname Izzy was given to 20 boys, along with 102 girls. Spelling Issy makes sense, too, but doesn’t appear as an independent name.

While Isidore is pretty much always a boy’s name, it’s actually the feminine forms that are slightly more popular. 154 girls were named Isadora in 2023, along with another 28 called Isidora and 13 Izadoras. That might be mostly about the popularity of similar-sounding Isabel, Isabelle, and especially Top Ten Isabella.

LITTLE GENTLEMAN NAME

All of this makes the baby name Isidore an intriguing option. The saints by the name are scholarly and hard-working. The story of Isidor and Ida Strauss is the stuff of modern legend. (If you know your 1997 Titanic movie, there’s a brief scene at the very end inspired by the couple.)

While the -dore ending gives us conventionally feminine nicknames like Dory and Dora, Izzy could trend for boys, just like Ozzy. 

There’s a softness to Isidore, but also a strength. Like Sebastian or Montgomery, it’s the kind of long, traditional name that still feels fresh and interesting now. 

If you’re looking for a choice with history and an intriguing mix of backstories, Isidore could be the perfect name for your family.

What do you think of the baby name Isidore?