Boys' name · since 1880
Isham
Isham has 615 recorded births since 1880 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1922 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #6,953 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 615
- born since 1880
- 1920s
- peak decade
Isham sits outside today's top ranks for boys, with 615 recorded since 1880.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Isham has been recorded 615 times among boys since 1880, though it is not among the currently most-used boys names, with its heaviest use in the 1920s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1880 to 2022.
- #6,953 of 45,481 all-time among boys
- 615 born since 1880
- 1920s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Isham ranks #6,953 of 45,481 boys' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 615 born since 1880, peaking in the 1920s.
- #6,953 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 615
- born since 1880
- 1920s
- peak decade
Isham's 615 recorded births place it above 84.69% of the 45,481 boys names in the full SSA archive.
The state file records this name in 2 jurisdictions, led by North Carolina.
Isham's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Isham's SSA record in two at 1929 and the more recent half accounts for 38% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 62%, consistent with a name more common in the past than in recent years. Its calmest year was 1892, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1922 peak of 27, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Isham popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1880–2022
- Peak year (1922)
- 27
- Annual births at peak, across 143 years of records
Isham by decade
1920s is the heaviest window (151 births, 25% of the file).
1920s was Isham's strongest decade.
151 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 25% of all-time use.
Isham births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s
1880s
65 births
- 1890s 53
1890s
53 births
- 1900s 24
1900s
24 births
- 1910s
1910s
100 births
- 1920s
1920s
151 births
- 1930s 56
1930s
56 births
- 1940s 47
1940s
47 births
- 1950s 36
1950s
36 births
- 1960s 13
1960s
13 births
- 1970s 25
1970s
25 births
- 1980s 17
1980s
17 births
- 1990s 11
1990s
11 births
- 2000s 11
2000s
11 births
- 2020s 6
2020s
6 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 151 births (25% of all-time use).
How Isham compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Isham's total volume
Isham by state
Where Isham concentrates geographically, total births since 1880
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | North Carolina | | 14 | 2.3% |
| #2 | Georgia | | 6 | 1.0% |
14 of 615 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 2 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What to do with Isham's data
- Isham's decade-level peak was the 1920s (151 total births); usage has since declined to 6 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- North Carolina records the most Ishams (14 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. North Carolina names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Isham
Nearby Names Like Isham
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Isham
Compare Isham side by side: Isham vs Ishmael Isham vs Ishaan Isham vs Ishan
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Isham: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1922)
Similar record span (~142 yrs)
Peak year is the single SSA year with the most births for that name; record span is first-to-latest year in the national files, not a recommendation or shared origin claim.
Data Sources
Data as of August 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1880–2022 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Isham draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.