Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Issa
UnisexArabic· “Arabic form of Jesus”
- Meaning
- Arabic form of Jesus
- Origin
- Arabic
- Pronunciation
- EE-suh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #1,682
- US babies 2025
- 98
- Best rank
- #1,535 (2024)
- Peak year
- 2024
Meaning and origin of Issa
Issa is an Arabic name that is usually said to mean “Arabic form of Jesus”.
Issa is the Arabic form of Jesus, rendered Isa in the Quran, where he is honored as a prophet. The name is used in Arabic-speaking countries and in West Africa, especially in Muslim communities, and it has spread internationally in the modern era. In Japanese it appears as the pen name of the haiku poet Kobayashi Issa, though that name has a separate origin. Issa is short, clear and easy to pronounce. It has a gentle, meaningful character across many cultures.
Popularity over time
Issa first appears in US Social Security records in 1969. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #1,535 in 2024, the same year it reached its highest count of 115 babies. In 2025, 98 babies were named Issa, and it ranked #1,682 nationally. That is 82% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #2,881 in 1980, #3,177 in 2000, #2,339 in 2010, and #1,682 in 2025. Of the 2,288 US boys named Issa since records began, 29% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2020s come next, with 586 babies.
Other babies' names that peaked around the same time include Jru, Ori, Sora, Mecca, and Greer.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Issa ranked highest in Michigan, Ohio, and New York.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan | #613 | 13 |
| Ohio | #973 | 8 |
| New York | #1078 | 11 |
| Texas | #1811 | 9 |
| California | #2310 | 6 |
Gender, sound and spelling
Issa is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 34% of US babies named Issa were girls and 66% were boys.
Issa is usually pronounced EE-suh, with two syllables. It has four letters, starts with I and ends in “-sa”.
Middle names for Issa
A few middle names that flow with Issa: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Issa
Similar names
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Lists that include Issa
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Issa mean?
Issa is an Arabic name that is usually said to mean “Arabic form of Jesus”.
What is the origin of the name Issa?
Issa has Arabic roots. Issa is the Arabic form of Jesus, rendered Isa in the Quran, where he is honored as a prophet.
Is Issa a popular name?
Not especially. Issa ranked #1,682 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Issa a boy or girl name?
Issa is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 34% of US babies named Issa were girls and 66% were boys.
How do you pronounce Issa?
Issa is usually pronounced EE-suh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings