Issa is a unisex name with a rare feel, drawn from real birth records. Below you'll find what Issa means and where it comes from, plus how many babies have been named Issa across the United States, UK, Ireland and New Zealand, how popular Issa has been over the decades, and the year it peaked.
Issa is a unisex name of Arabic origin meaning “the Arabic form of Jesus”. An Arabic name for Jesus; also a Swahili name meaning God is salvation.
| Country | Births on record |
|---|---|
| United States since 1880 | 3,217 births |
| England & Wales since 1996 | 896 births |
| Scotland since 1974 | 3 births |
| Ireland since 1964 | 16 births |
Counts come from official national birth-registration statistics: U.S. Social Security Administration, England & Wales (Office for National Statistics), Scotland (National Records of Scotland), Northern Ireland (NISRA), Ireland (Central Statistics Office) and New Zealand (Dept. of Internal Affairs). Coverage spans differ, so totals aren't directly comparable across countries.
Babies named Issa per year, United States (1969 to 2025). United States peaked in 2024 (196/yr) · England & Wales peaked in 2023 (71/yr) · Ireland peaked in 2023 (6/yr) · Scotland peaked in 2025 (3/yr).
Issa is an uncommon baby name in the United States. It was most common in 2024, when it ranked #2,281 nationally (given to 264 babies that year).
Isaiah · Asia · Isiah · Asa · Isa · Isai
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