Issa
How to say it: EES-suh · /ˈisə/
Arabic form of Jesus (Isa) meaning 'God is salvation' - also Japanese name with varied meanings.
Issa was the 534th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 157 babies of either sex (Social Security Administration). The 2020s are its busiest decade so far, its births are up 2.0-fold in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #424 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #534 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 (both sexes) | 157 |
| Share of births | 1 in 4,516 |
| Peak decade | 2020s |
| Change over 10 years | ×2.0 |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #424 |
| In France, 2025 | #82 among boys’ names, 825 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Usage gathered almost wholly across recent decades, with the 2020s marking the high point. Still at that high, it looks set to rise further.
What goes with it
Light breath and two open syllables give Issa an airy ease that travels well. Hana and Sana sit alongside it nicely.
Honouring a Issa in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Issa is about 1 in 189.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Arabic, English, French, Japanese.
In France: #82 for boys in 2025.
Famous people named Issa
- Issa Diop (born 1997)Moroccan footballer
- Issa Rae (born 1985)American actress, writer and producer
- Issa Kaboré (born 2001)Burkinabè association football player
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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