Izaya
A masculine Japanese name meaning "he who looks over the others".
Name Census estimates that about 1,063 living Americans carry the first name Izaya. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Izaya today is around 17 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Izaya births was 2006 (81 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Izaya. 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
- • Izaya is a relatively new arrival in the SSA data. The average bearer is just 17 years old, meaning it gained most of its traction in the last two decades.
People living today
1.1K
~ 1 in 322,441 Americans
Peak year
2006
81 babies that year
Average age
17
years old
2024 SSA rank
#5,114
Tracked since 1996
Popularity
Izaya: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Izaya from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 533 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Izaya 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 Izaya during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Izayas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 5 states and territories. California, Texas, Florida recorded the most babies named Izaya, while Colorado, Arizona, Florida recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 36 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Izaya
The name Izaya has its origins in the Japanese language, derived from the combination of the words "iza" meaning "move forward" and "ya" which can translate to "house" or "dwelling." This name has been in use for centuries in Japan, though its precise origins are difficult to pinpoint.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Izaya can be found in the historical text "Nihon Shoki," which dates back to the 8th century. This text chronicles the mythology and early history of Japan, suggesting that the name held significance during this time period.
In the 12th century, the famous Japanese warrior and samurai, Izaya Nobunaga, was born. He played a pivotal role in the Genpei War, a conflict between the Minamoto and Taira clans that ultimately led to the establishment of the Kamakura Shogunate.
Another notable figure with the name Izaya was Izaya Ienari, a Confucian scholar and philosopher who lived during the Edo period of Japan (1603-1868). His writings and teachings had a profound impact on the intellectual landscape of the time.
In the realm of Japanese literature, the name Izaya has been immortalized by Izaya Shikibu, a renowned writer and poet who lived during the Heian period (794-1185). Her work, particularly the classic novel "The Tale of Genji," is widely regarded as a masterpiece of Japanese literature.
Moving to more modern times, Izaya Hiroshige was a celebrated ukiyo-e artist who lived during the late Edo period (1797-1858). His woodblock prints, depicting landscapes and scenes from everyday life, are considered among the finest examples of the ukiyo-e genre.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have borne the name Izaya. While its precise origins may be shrouded in mystery, the name has undoubtedly left an indelible mark on Japanese culture and history.
People
Izaya + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Izaya 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
Izaya: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Izaya?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,063 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Izaya 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 322,441 US residents.
Is Izaya a common name?
We classify Izaya as "Rare". It ranks above 90.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,075 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Izaya most popular?
The single biggest year for Izaya was 2006, when 81 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Izaya is about 17 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Izaya a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Izaya 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.