Isoke
A feminine name of uncertain African origin, potentially of Baganda (Uganda) origins.
Name Census estimates that about 6 living Americans carry the first name Isoke. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Isoke today is around 44 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Isoke births was 1978 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Isoke. 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 Isoke. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
6
~ 1 in 57,125,723 Americans
Peak year
1978
6 babies that year
Average age
44
years old
1978 SSA rank
#8,938
Tracked since 1978
Popularity
Isoke: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Isoke 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 Isoke during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0 | 6 | 6 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Isoke
The name Isoke originates from the Yoruba language spoken in parts of West Africa, primarily Nigeria. It can be traced back to the 15th century when the Yoruba people were a dominant cultural group in the region. The name is derived from the combination of two Yoruba words, 'iso' meaning 'source' and 'oke' meaning 'hill' or 'elevated place'.
Historically, the name Isoke was likely used to denote a person who lived near a hilltop spring or a revered water source. In traditional Yoruba culture, water sources were considered sacred and were often associated with fertility and prosperity. As such, the name may have been bestowed upon individuals with a connection to these important natural resources.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Isoke can be found in the writings of Samuel Ajayi Crowther, a Yoruba scholar and the first African Anglican bishop in Nigeria, who lived from 1809 to 1891. In his works, he mentions a woman named Isoke who was highly respected within her community.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Isoke. One such person was Isoke Adejumo (1895-1973), a Nigerian educator and women's rights activist who played a significant role in promoting education for girls in her country. Another prominent figure was Isoke Akinbolaji (1920-2002), a Nigerian politician and diplomat who served as the country's Minister of External Affairs in the 1970s.
In the realm of literature, Isoke Molife (1927-2016) was a renowned Nigerian poet and playwright whose works explored themes of identity, cultural heritage, and the experiences of women in African society. Isoke Gbadegesin (1932-2018) was a Nigerian philosopher and academic who made significant contributions to the field of African philosophy and ethics.
Lastly, Isoke Tsehaye (1951-present) is an Eritrean activist and politician who has been a vocal advocate for human rights and democracy in her country. She served as the first female president of the Eritrean National Congress, a prominent opposition party in Eritrea.
People
Isoke + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Isoke 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
Isoke: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Isoke?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 6 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Isoke 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 57,125,723 US residents.
Is Isoke a common name?
We classify Isoke as "Very Rare". It ranks above 22.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 6 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Isoke most popular?
The single biggest year for Isoke was 1978, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Isoke is about 44 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Isoke a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Isoke in the SSA data are female. 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.