Isay
A feminine name of Scottish origin indicating "strong-willed" or "vigorous".
Name Census estimates that about 83 living Americans carry the first name Isay. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Isay today is around 19 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Isay births was 2005 (11 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Isay. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Isay. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
83
~ 1 in 4,129,570 Americans
Peak year
2005
11 babies that year
Average age
19
years old
2015 SSA rank
#9,963
Tracked since 2002
Popularity
Isay: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Isay from the 2000s through to the 2010s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 55 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2000s peak, Isay remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Isay by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Isay during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Isay
The name Isay has its origins in the Hebrew language and culture, tracing back to ancient times. It is derived from the Hebrew name Yishai, which means "gift" or "present." The name Yishai is found in the Hebrew Bible, where it refers to the father of King David.
In the Old Testament, Yishai is mentioned as a resident of Bethlehem and a member of the tribe of Judah. He is described as a humble shepherd who was chosen by God to become the father of the future king of Israel. The name Yishai is also associated with the messianic prophecies in the Book of Isaiah, where the Messiah is referred to as a descendant of the root of Yishai.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Isay can be found in various historical records and documents from the Middle Ages. One notable figure bearing this name was Isay ben Judah, a renowned Jewish philosopher and scholar who lived in the 11th century. He was born in Fez, Morocco, and made significant contributions to the study of Jewish law and ethics.
Another historical figure named Isay was Isay ben Rabi, a prominent Jewish physician who lived in the 13th century. He was born in Arles, France, and was known for his expertise in medicine and his writings on medical topics.
In the 16th century, Isay ben Abraham Bekor Shor was a distinguished Jewish scholar and rabbi from Poland. He authored several works on Jewish law and was highly respected for his knowledge and leadership within the Jewish community.
During the 18th century, Isay ben Judah Loeb was a prominent Jewish scholar and kabbalist from Ukraine. He was known for his expertise in mystical teachings and his contributions to the study of the Kabbalah.
In more recent times, Isay Weinfeld was a notable Brazilian architect born in 1952. He is renowned for his contemporary and minimalist designs, and his work has received numerous awards and recognition.
While the name Isay has its roots in Hebrew and Jewish culture, it has been adopted and used across various cultures and regions throughout history. However, it remains a relatively uncommon name, particularly in modern times.
People
Isay + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Isay as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with I
Other first names starting with I with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Isay: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Isay?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 83 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Isay going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 4,129,570 US residents.
Is Isay a common name?
We classify Isay as "Very Rare". It ranks above 61.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 84 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Isay most popular?
The single biggest year for Isay was 2005, when 11 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Isay is about 19 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Isay a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Isay in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.