Isaac

Isaac is a male given name of Hebrew origin. The name derives from Yitzhak, meaning “he will laugh” or “laughter,” a reference to Sarah’s reaction when told she would bear a son. In the Hebrew Bible, Isaac is the son of Abraham and Sarah and the father of Esau and Jacob. He becomes a key patriarch in the lineage of the Israelites, and God reaffirms the Abrahamic covenant through him. The Genesis narrative includes the Binding of Isaac, in which God tests Abraham’s faith. In Islamic tradition, Ishaq (Isḥāq) is regarded as a prophet and the son of Ibrahim (Abraham).

Isaac is widely used as a given name across Jewish, Christian, and Muslim communities, with variant spellings including Yitzhak, Itzhak, Isak, and Ishaq. In the English-speaking world, notable people named Isaac include Isaac Newton, a key figure of the scientific revolution; Isaac Asimov, a prolific science fiction writer and biochemist; Isaac Bashevis Singer, a Nobel Prize–winning author; and Isaac Hayes, a musician and composer. The name is also found as a surname in various cultures.