Israa
Of Arabic origin, meaning "night journey" or "nocturnal travel".
Name Census estimates that about 641 living Americans carry the first name Israa. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Israa today is around 16 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Israa births was 2017 (41 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Israa. 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.
People living today
641
~ 1 in 534,718 Americans
Peak year
2017
41 babies that year
Average age
16
years old
2024 SSA rank
#4,688
Tracked since 1990
Popularity
Israa: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Israa from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 257 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Israa remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Israa 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 Israa during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Israas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 5 states and territories. Michigan, New York, California recorded the most babies named Israa, while Ohio, Florida, California recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 10 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Israa
The name Israa has its roots in Arabic, originating from the Arabic word "isra," which means "night journey" or "ascension." This name is deeply rooted in Islamic tradition and holds significant religious and cultural significance.
In Islamic belief, the word "isra" refers to the miraculous night journey undertaken by the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Jerusalem, known as the "Isra and Miraj." This event is commemorated annually and is considered one of the most significant events in Islamic history, signifying the spiritual ascension of the Prophet.
The name Israa can be traced back to the early days of Islam, shortly after the advent of the religion in the 7th century. It gained popularity among Muslim communities as a way to honor the Prophet's journey and pay homage to this pivotal event in Islamic history.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Israa can be found in historical records from the 8th century, when it was used by notable figures within the Islamic world. For example, Israa bint Abi Bakr was a renowned scholar and poet who lived during this time period.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Israa. For instance, Israa al-Ghazzawi (born in 1993) is a Syrian activist and journalist who has been actively involved in reporting on the Syrian Civil War. Israa Ghrayeb (born in 1992) is a Palestinian writer and poet, known for her works that explore themes of identity and resistance.
Another prominent figure is Israa Sadiq (born in 1980), an Iraqi-American artist and sculptor whose works have been exhibited internationally. Israa Salha (born in 1993) is a Jordanian-Palestinian weightlifter who has represented Jordan in various international competitions, including the Olympics.
Israa al-Modather (born in 1991) is a Yemeni human rights activist and journalist who has been vocal about women's rights and the ongoing conflict in Yemen. She has received numerous awards and accolades for her work in promoting human rights and freedom of expression.
The name Israa continues to be popular among Muslim communities around the world, serving as a reminder of the rich cultural and religious heritage associated with this name and the significant event it commemorates.
People
Israa + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Israa 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
Israa: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Israa?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 641 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Israa 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 534,718 US residents.
Is Israa a common name?
We classify Israa as "Very Rare". It ranks above 86.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 650 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Israa most popular?
The single biggest year for Israa was 2017, when 41 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Israa is about 16 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Israa a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Israa 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.