Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Isaac - is it very popular?

34 replies

grizzabellia · 06/12/2013 05:35

My dh has fixated on this name for our baby if it is a boy. I do like it, and it was on our list last time, I just worry that it seems to be climbing the charts and was at number 30 last year (this happened with our daughter's name which suddenly went astronomical and while most we meet are younger than her and there are no others in her school I do find it irritating!) I am a bit worried that Isaac is on the up and may make top ten. Dh thinks this is irrelevant ('I don't care what other people call their babies'.) He has vetoed my other suggestions of Amos (too Jewish - we are not) and Nathaniel (he likes vowel names!)

Just wondering if people know lots of Isaacs (I don't actually know any but do hear it occasionally), if it is likely to date and become this generation's Stephen or Michael!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Haylebop12 · 06/12/2013 14:59

Ps the only thing that annoys me is people spelling it wrong. Usually Issac!

Haylebop12 · 06/12/2013 14:58

I've got a ten week old Isaac, he's the only one I know and although may be on the up I doubt it'll make the top 10. I think it's common enough that people don't think you've made it up but uncommon enough that he's likely to be the only one in his class.

Oh and my Isaac is truly lovely Grin

caz05 · 06/12/2013 14:52

I have an Isaac who is now 8 and he is the only one I know. I do very occasionally here it when we are out so I think the name is still fairly uncommon. I get lots of lovely comments about his name Smile

SS3J · 06/12/2013 12:43

My brother is called Isaac, but that was in 1990 and it was almost unheard of then, outside of Jewish families. My parents were always getting comments about it being 'a Jewish name' but turned out they were trendsetters! It is very popular now, but I can't really see it getting as high as the top ten. I don't think it will push out the classics.

HoneyandRum · 06/12/2013 11:23

I knew a baby Issac way back in the '90s and at that time it was very unusual. Of course a nickname for Issac is Zach so you have some options. I remember my mum having the same issue when she named my bro Jonathan in 1970. She said she knew absolutely no one with the name until she took him to nursery and there were two others! So unfortunately as original as we all love to think we are, we often are just at the vanguard of the current Zeitgeist.

If you love it use it or go for one of the lesser used biblical names. Benjamin and David were considered very Jewish names in Victorian times so it's all swings and roundabouts anyway.

akachan · 06/12/2013 10:57

I think it's nice - I know one baby Issac.

Original poster
grizzabellia · 06/12/2013 05:52

Thanks Plainbrownenvelope - I don't mind if the popularity is going down, more worried about it shooting up!

I would understand the point about a Jewish name if our son did not have one of the most Jewish names possible! I think what he means is 'not an obscure Jewish name!'

OP posts:
NancyBlacket · 06/12/2013 05:50

I like it and called my DS Isaac. At the time it wasn't high on the popularity lists, but with him only a month old we were in mothercare and met three others! I got over having an unusual name and love DS because he is my Isaac!
Use it if you love it and don't worry what others call their children.

PlainBrownEnvelope · 06/12/2013 05:46

I know a lot . That, Noah and Jacob must comprise 30% of all 2-4 yr old boys I know. It was like everyone went on an old testament naming binge :-) That said, I think the popularity of Isaac is waning. I dont meet many baby Isaacs now

Also, if your husband doesnt want a Jewish name, you don't get much more Jewish than Isaac.