Issac
/ˈaɪ.zək/
Issac is a variant spelling of Isaac, one of the most ancient Hebrew names in continuous use. The Hebrew Yitzhak (יִצְחָק) comes from the root tzachaq meaning "to laugh" - in Genesis 17:17, Abraham laughs when God tells him that his 90-year-old wife Sarah will bear a son, and in 18:12 Sarah laughs too. The name carries that moment of joyful disbelief at its core.
Isaac is the second of the three Hebrew patriarchs - son of Abraham and Sarah, father of Jacob and Esau. His binding (the Akedah, Genesis 22) is one of the most theologically significant passages in the entire Hebrew Bible, and the name has been in continuous use in Jewish, Christian, and Muslim communities across three millennia.
The double-s spelling Issac is the result of a common transposition - iss- for is- - that appears in handwritten records as far back as the 17th century and has persisted as a variant in American use ever since. It is not a modern invention but a genuinely old alternate form.
What the name Issac means
Issac has two syllables: EYE-zik. The ss spelling changes nothing about the pronunciation. Parents who use this spelling may be following a family tradition, a religious community's convention, or simply a preference for the visual form.
Issac ranked No. 851 in the United States in 2024 with approximately 359 births. The standard spelling Isaac ranks far higher - in the top 30 - making Issac the minority variant.
Numerology and symbolism
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Issac - similar names
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