A 1880s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Isom since 1880
Babies named Isom per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1920, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Isom's real moment was 1884.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 183 |
| 1890s | 117 |
| 1900s | 115 |
| 1910s | 233 |
| 1920s | 277 |
| 1930s | 165 |
| 1940s | 169 |
| 1950s | 142 |
| 1960s | 57 |
| 1970s | 59 |
| 1980s | 57 |
| 1990s | 65 |
| 2000s | 49 |
| 2010s | 60 |
| 2020s | 35 |
Meaning & origin
Isom is a rare American given name that saw its peak in 1884, when it ranked highest in popularity. After a long period of decline, the name has been rising again since 2017, though it remains uncommon: in 2025, roughly 1 in 213,510 newborn boys received the name, placing it at rank 8,910 nationally. Its origin is debated, but it is most often linked to the English surname Isham, from a place name on the River Ise. The name's trajectory suggests a quiet revival, likely influenced by broader interest in vintage, surname-style names. While no top states are recorded for Isom, its historical concentration in the American South aligns with its peak in the 1880s.
Isom is a given name of uncertain origin, most likely an American variant of the surname Isham. Isham itself is an English habitational surname from a place in Northamptonshire, derived from the River Ise (a Celtic river name) and Old English 'ham' meaning 'homestead' or 'village'. Alternatively, it may be a variant of the Hebrew name Esau, though this is not widely supported. The name was most popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the United States, especially in the South.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Izzy
Sibling names for Isom
Names that share Isom's style, for a brother or sister.
