Isaiah

Where the name comes from

• Hebrew
  Salvation of Yah (God)
  Yeshayahu (short form Yeshayah), from yasha (to save) + Yah (a short form of the Hebrew name of God)
  The standard Hebrew lexicon gives the meaning as "salvation of Yah." Strong's Concordance puts it as "Jah has saved." Other reference works phrase it as "salvation of the Lord" or "God is salvation." These are different translations of the same idea. The Hebrew Bible gives the name to several men besides the prophet.
• Greek and Latin (transmission)
  Same as the Hebrew
  Greek Esaias; Latin Isaias
  The name reached European languages through the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible and the Latin Vulgate. English Isaiah comes from these forms. One older Greek lexicon translates the name a little differently, as "Jehovah's help."

Isaiah across traditions

• Jewish. Isaiah son of Amoz was a prophet in Jerusalem and Judah. His call to prophesy came about 2,770 years ago, when the Assyrian empire was expanding west. The biblical Book of Isaiah is named for him. Scholars believe he wrote only part of its first 39 chapters.
• Christian. The Christian Gospels quote the Book of Isaiah more than any other book of prophecy. Christians have read its passages as pointing to the Messiah. Older Catholic Bibles in English spell the name Isaias.
• Spanish and Latin American. The Spanish form is Isaías, as in the Reina-Valera Bible's "Visión de Isaías hijo de Amoz." The English form Isaiah is also popular in Hispanic areas of the United States. In 2006, Isaiah was the #1 name for baby boys in New Mexico.
• Medieval and early modern Europe. Records show Isaias in Latin in Poland in 1209. The French forms Isaïe and Esaie appear in the 1500s. The Wycliffite English Bible of 1395 spelled the name Isaie or Ysaie.
• United States popularity. Peak decade: the 2000s, when it ranked #44 among US boys. It ranked #57 in 2025 (SSA).
• Surname. Isaiah is also a family name, mainly in Nigeria and probably among African Americans. It comes from the biblical first name.

Who carried it

• Isaiah son of Amoz (About 2,700 years ago): Hebrew prophet of Judah. The biblical Book of Isaiah is named for him.
• Isaiah of Rostov (11th century): Russian missionary bishop and saint.
• Isaiah Thomas (1749–1831): American printer and publisher. He founded the American Antiquarian Society.
• Isaiah Berlin (1909–1997): British philosopher and historian of ideas.
• Isiah Thomas (Born 1961): Hall of Fame basketball player for the Detroit Pistons. He uses a variant spelling.

Forms in other languages

Isaías, Isaias, Esaias, Yeshayahu, Yeshayah, Jeshaiah, Jesaiah, Isaïe, Isiah

Isaiah in letter-number systems

Hebrew, Greek and other traditions gave every letter a number, and read meaning into the totals. These are the counts, computed; the readings are inside the Innerverse.