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The short answer
Isaiah is a masculine name of Hebrew and biblical origin. Behind the Name derives it from the Hebrew name Yeshaʿyahu, meaning "Yahweh is salvation", from the roots yashaʿ ("to save") and yah (referring to the Hebrew God). Isaiah is one of the four major prophets of the Old Testament and the supposed author of the Book of Isaiah; he came from Jerusalem and probably lived in the 8th century BC. As an English Christian name it was first used after the Protestant Reformation. In the United States it ranked #57 for boys in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
Behind the Name gives Isaiah as "from the Hebrew name יְשַׁעְיָהוּ (Yeshaʿyahu) meaning 'Yahweh is salvation', from the roots יָשַׁע (yashaʿ) meaning 'to save' and יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God". The bearer of the name in the Old Testament is one of the four major prophets, supposedly the author of the Book of Isaiah; the entry places him in Jerusalem in probably the 8th century BC, when Assyria threatened the Kingdom of Judah. In English the name is a Reformation-era adoption rather than a medieval one: Behind the Name says it "was first used after the Protestant Reformation". The English spelling variants Isiah and Izaiah are listed on the same entry, and Esaias is the form found in older biblical translations.
Editorial confidence: established
Linguistic roots
| Language | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Hebrew | יְשַׁעְיָהוּ (Yeshaʿyahu) | Yahweh is salvation |
| Hebrew | יָשַׁע (yashaʿ) | to save |
| Hebrew | יָהּ (yah) | referring to the Hebrew God (Yahweh) |
Popularity
Isaiah ranked #57 for boys in the United States in 2025 (Social Security Administration).
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #57 | ssa-2025 |
Nicknames, variants, and related names
Nicknames: Shai, Shay
Variants: Isiah, Izaiah, Esaias, Isaias
Related names: Isaia, Isaías, Yeshayahu, Isay, Ikaia, Esa
What the name feels like
Isaiah reads as a biblical name that has settled comfortably into everyday modern use: three syllables, a soft vowel-heavy sound and a strong stressed middle. It sits alongside other Old Testament prophet and patriarch names that parents reach for when they want tradition without stiffness, such as Elijah and Josiah.
Style tags: biblical, Hebrew, three syllables, prophet name, classic
Editorial interpretation: These style impressions are editorial judgment, not linguistic fact. Shai and Shay are listed by Behind the Name as Hebrew forms rather than as English nicknames; their use as short forms in English is an editorial suggestion, not a documented tradition.
If you like this name
Names that share Isaiah's biblical background or its flowing, vowel-led sound.
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Frequently asked questions
What does the name Isaiah mean?
Isaiah means "Yahweh is salvation". It comes from the Hebrew name Yeshaʿyahu, formed from yashaʿ ("to save") and yah, a short form referring to the Hebrew God.
Is Isaiah a biblical name?
Yes. Isaiah is one of the four major prophets of the Old Testament and is traditionally regarded as the author of the Book of Isaiah. Behind the Name places him in Jerusalem in probably the 8th century BC.
Is Isaiah a popular name?
Yes. Isaiah ranked #57 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Isaiah — supports etymology, roots, biblical background, post-Reformation English use, variants, other-language forms.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
