Isao
Isao is a masculine Japanese given name which was popular during the Shōwa period (1926–1989).
Meaning & Origin of Isao
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Isao is a masculine Japanese given name which was popular during the Shōwa period (1926–1989).
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Isao
Isao first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1915, with 12 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1925, when 20 Isaos were born — ranking #1,745 that year. As of 2026, Isao ranks #12,182 for baby boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 246 Isaos have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Notable people named Isao
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- Isao Abe ( 阿部 功 ; 1912–1980) , Japanese hammer thrower
- Isao Aoki (功, born 1942), Japanese professional golfer
- Isao Asai ( 浅井 功 ; born 1942) , Japanese ice hockey player
- Isao Harimoto (勲, born 1940), Zainichi Korean professional baseball player
- Isao Hashizume (功, born 1941), Japanese actor
- Isao Hayashi ( 林 伊佐緒 ; 1912–1995) , Japanese singer and composer
- Isao Homma (born 1981), Japanese footballer who plays for Albirex Niigata
- Isao Inokuma (功, 1938–2001), Japanese judoka
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Isao
Phonetically similar names — useful when Isao is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Isao
What does the name Isao mean?
How popular is Isao in 2026?
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In which U.S. states is Isao most popular?
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What names go well with Isao?
About the name Isao
Isao is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1915 and has accumulated 246 births in the dataset. Isao's peak popularity came in 1925 when it ranked #1,745. Use the chart and map above to compare Isao's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1925 →
- Names of the 1920s →
- Names starting with "I" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.