Issa
Issa is a given name that means Jesus in Arabic. It may refer to:Christ in Islam El-Issa family
- Arabic
Meaning & Origin of Issa
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Issa is a given name that means Jesus in Arabic. It may refer to:Christ in Islam El-Issa family
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- Arabic
The Story of Issa
As a girl name
The earliest SSA record of Issa as a girl name dates back to 1975, when 6 babies received it. 2026 was its biggest year on record, with 83 newborns named Issa — #2,251 in the national rankings. The 2020s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 48% of all recorded Issas. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #2,251 among girl names with 83 births, rising sharply (+44% over the past five years). In total, more than 1K Issas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
American parents first put Issa on the record books as a boy name in 1969, with 5 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 2026, when 120 Issas were born — ranking #1,495 that year. The 2020s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 30% of all recorded Issas. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #1,495 among boy names with 120 births, rising sharply (+39% over the past five years). In total, more than 2K Issas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1960s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Issa
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Issa. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Names that sound like Issa
Phonetically similar names — useful when Issa 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 Issa
What does the name Issa mean?
What is the origin of the name Issa?
How popular is Issa in 2026?
When was Issa most popular?
In which U.S. states is Issa most popular?
Is Issa a unisex name?
What names go well with Issa?
What are nicknames or variants of Issa?
About the name Issa
Issa is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1969 and has accumulated 2K births in the dataset. Issa's peak popularity came in 2026 when it ranked #1,495. Use the chart and map above to compare Issa's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2026 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "I" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
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.