Isai
Boy name · #1139 in 2025 · Uniqueness 60/100
Isai is currently the #1139 boy name in the United States — 186 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #1030, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 9,677 boys born in 2025 was named Isai.
Babies named Isai per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 59-year story
Isai first appears in the Social Security records in 1966, when 6 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2007, when 333 boys were named Isai — good for #700 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Isai against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Isai in class?
Isai scores 60 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Isai is most common
Geography matters for names, and Isai is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Isais were TX (31), CA (30), NY (11), FL (8), GA (8). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Isai
Statistically, parents drawn to Isai tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Esai, Abisai, Jai, Sai, and Jovani.
EsaiAbisaiJaiSaiJovaniIssacJabariMekhi
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Isai | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 186 | #1138 |
| 2024 | 205 | #1062 |
| 2023 | 199 | #1080 |
| 2022 | 160 | #1228 |
| 2021 | 168 | #1170 |
| 2020 | 161 | #1194 |
| 2019 | 207 | #1009 |
| 2018 | 193 | #1052 |
| 2017 | 195 | #1029 |
| 2016 | 185 | #1065 |
| 2015 | 197 | #1030 |
| 2014 | 168 | #1133 |
| 2013 | 191 | #1020 |
| 2012 | 212 | #949 |
| 2011 | 237 | #881 |
| 2010 | 241 | #872 |
| 2009 | 270 | #816 |
| 2008 | 310 | #738 |
| 2007 | 333 | #700 |
| 2006 | 305 | #712 |
| 2005 | 274 | #737 |
| 2004 | 275 | #702 |
| 2003 | 243 | #741 |
| 2002 | 245 | #724 |
| 2001 | 206 | #812 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Isai a popular boy name?
Isai ranked #1139 among boys in 2025 with 186 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1030.
When was the name Isai most popular?
Isai peaked in 2007, when 333 American boys received the name (ranked #700 that year). Since 2007 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Isai?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 9,677 newborn American boys was named Isai. It scores 60/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.