Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1922

Isamu

Gender Boy Rank 2025 Below top lists
Rank 2025
–
among boys
Babies in 2025
<5
named Isamu
How common
–
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1922
40 babies
All-time total
562
#7,362 all-time among boys
First recorded
1912
in Social Security records

Isamu popularity over time

562 babies have been named Isamu since 1912, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.010.020.030.0418801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1922Boys

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Boys Per year Change Best rank
1880s – – – –
1890s – – – –
1900s – – – –
1910s 147 15 – #1,250
1920s 295 30 +101% #1,126
1930s 73 7 -75% #1,623
1940s – – – –
1950s – – – –
1960s – – – –
1970s – – – –
1980s 5 1 – #7,418
1990s – – – –
2000s 36 4 – #9,309
2010s – – – –
2020s (to 2025) 6 1 – #11,375

The story of Isamu

Isamu is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1912, 562 American babies have been named Isamu. Its peak came in 1922, when 40 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1920s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Isamu stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

Isamu year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Boys Boys rank
2025 – –
2024 – –
2023 6 #11,375
2022 – –
2021 – –
2020 – –
2019 – –
2018 – –
2017 – –
2016 – –
2015 – –
2014 – –
2013 – –
2012 – –
2011 – –
2010 – –
2009 8 #9,309
2008 6 #11,606
2007 5 #13,094
2006 7 #9,975
2005 – –
2004 – –
2003 – –
2002 – –
2001 5 #11,240
2000 5 #11,054
1995 – –
1990 – –
1985 – –
1980 – –
1975 – –
1970 – –
1965 – –
1960 – –
1955 – –
1950 – –
1945 – –
1940 – –
1935 7 #3,101
1930 21 #1,623
1925 39 #1,132
1920 30 #1,339
1915 17 #1,744
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Famous people named Isamu

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Isamu Noguchi Isamu Noguchi American artist and landscape architect (1904–1988) Contemporary
  2. 2 Isamu Akasaki Isamu Akasaki Japanese materials scientist (1929–2021) Contemporary
  3. 3 Isamu Sonoda Isamu Sonoda Japanese judoka (1946–2026) Contemporary
  4. 4 Isamu Matsuura Japanese footballer b. 1991 · Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Isamu, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How popular is the name Isamu in 2025?

Isamu did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Isamu?

562 babies have been named Isamu in the United States since 1912, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Isamu most popular?

Isamu peaked in 1922, when 40 newborns received the name.

Is Isamu a boy or girl name?

Isamu is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Isamu rising or falling?

Isamu is on the rise, noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Isamu?

Well-known people named Isamu include Isamu Noguchi (sculptor), Isamu Akasaki (physicist), Isamu Sonoda (politician).

Names like Isamu

Names that sound and feel close to Isamu: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Isamu with similar names → More names starting with I →