Isa is the Arabic name of Jesus (peace be upon him) in the Qur’an. It is linked to the Hebrew and Aramaic Yeshua, “God is salvation”, though how the Arabic form developed is debated. Muslims honour Isa, son of Maryam, as a great Prophet and the Messiah. In England and Wales, the spelling Eesa now outranks Isa.
What does Isa mean?
Isa (ʿĪsā) is the form of Jesus used in the Qur’an and by Muslims. Most scholars connect it with the Hebrew and Aramaic Yeshua, meaning “God is salvation” or “God saves”, the same root as Joshua. Why the Arabic form sounds different (it begins with the Arabic letter ʿayn) is a long-running question for linguists, and there is no single agreed answer. Arabic-speaking Christians usually say Yasūʿ instead.
In the Qur’an, Isa is also called al-Masih, “the Messiah” (3:45), and very often “Isa, son of Maryam”, honouring his mother.
How do you pronounce Isa?
Say EE-sa, with a long “ee”. In Arabic the name begins with the throat sound ʿayn, which English doesn’t have; a soft “ee” is a good approximation.
How do you spell Isa? Spellings and variants
- Eesa: the most popular spelling in England and Wales today.
- Isa, Esa, Issa (common in Arab and West African families) and Isah.
- Jesus (English), Yeshua (Hebrew and Aramaic).
How popular is Isa in the UK?
Because the ONS counts each spelling separately, this name is split across several entries. Together they would place it much higher than any single spelling.
| Spelling | Rank in 2025 | Babies in 2025 | Change since 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eesa | 159 | 330 | up 16 places |
| Isa | 238 | – | up 14 places |
| Esa | 438 | – | up 122 places |
| Issa | 627 | – | up 3 places |
The Prophet Isa (peace be upon him)
The Qur’an tells of Isa’s miraculous birth to Maryam, who had no husband, in Surah Maryam (19:16–34). As a newborn in the cradle he spoke to defend his mother: “Indeed, I am the servant of Allah. He has given me the Scripture and made me a Prophet” (19:30). By Allah’s permission he healed the blind and the leper and brought the dead to life (3:49; 5:110), and he was given the Injil (5:46).
Muslims believe Isa was not killed or crucified but raised up by Allah (4:157–158), and that he will return before the end of time. Isa is one of the five “Prophets of strong resolve” named together in the Qur’an (33:7), with Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa and Muhammad.
Those five are exactly the Prophets whose stories make up the Hudhud book, so Isa’s story is one of the five your child travels through. Our guide to Prophet Isa in Islam for kids explains it simply, including how it differs from the Christian account.
What middle names go with Isa?
What are nicknames for Isa?
Isa is already short, so most families use it as it is. Little ones are sometimes called Isi or Eesu.
What are good sibling names for Isa?
Sources and further reading
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Isa mean in Islam?
Isa is the Qur’anic Arabic name of Jesus, son of Maryam. It is linked to the Hebrew and Aramaic Yeshua, “God is salvation”, though how the Arabic form developed is debated.
Is Isa in the Qur’an?
Yes. Isa is named many times in the Qur’an, often as “Isa, son of Maryam”, and the story of his birth is told in Surah Maryam (19:16–34). The angels announced him as “the Messiah, Isa, son of Maryam” (3:45).
Is Isa the same as Jesus?
Yes. Isa is the name Muslims use for Jesus, whom they honour as a great Prophet and the Messiah, born to Maryam without a father, but not as divine.
Which is more common, Isa or Eesa?
Eesa. In England and Wales in 2025, 330 boys were named Eesa (159th) and Isa ranked 238th, with Esa 438th and Issa 627th (ONS).
Is Isa a lucky or unique name?
Islam does not treat names as lucky or unlucky (Sahih al-Bukhari 5776); Isa is chosen for the Prophet. Because the name is split across several spellings, a boy called Isa is less likely to share his exact spelling with a classmate than a Yusuf or an Adam.
How do you pronounce Isa?
Say EE-sa, with a long “ee”. In Arabic it begins with the throat sound ʿayn, which a soft “ee” approximates well.
What are good middle names for Isa?
Isa Yahya (after his cousin), Isa Ibrahim, Isa Adam and Isa Rayyan are popular, as is Muhammad Isa. Isa is short, so most families never need a nickname.
Is the Prophet Isa in the Hudhud book?
Yes. Isa’s story is one of the five in Hudhud, with Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa and Muhammad (peace be upon them), the five Prophets of strong resolve.