Isaac in Chinese
Isaac in Chinese is 艾萨克 (Ài Sà Kè).
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Meaning
- he will laugh
Isaac is a name of Hebrew origin, generally understood to mean "he will laugh". It has been in continuous US use since Social Security records begin in 1880, peaking in the 2000s.
3 ways to write Isaac
phonetic
Following the sound of your name
艾萨克
Ài Sà Kè
The standard transliteration of Isaac: 艾 (ài, "mugwort; beautiful (classical)"), 萨 (sà, "Bodhisattva (phonetic 'sa')"), 克 (kè, "to overcome; gram"). Chosen for sound, it is instantly recognizable as this name.
Why these characters?
Mandarin has no consonant clusters, so the 2-syllable English name is spread over 3 characters: 艾 ài + 萨 sà + 克 kè. The tone contour is 4-4-4 (falling, falling, falling).
Character breakdown
24 strokes total (simplified)- 艾
ài
Tone 4 · 6 strokes (simplified)
mugwort; beautiful (classical)
- 萨
sà
Tone 4 · 11 strokes (simplified)
Bodhisattva (phonetic 'sa')
- 克
kè
Tone 4 · 7 strokes (simplified)
to overcome; gram
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Stroke order
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meaningful
Chosen for meaning and association
乐天
Lè Tiān
Inspired by "he will laugh": 乐 (lè, "joy, happiness; music") + 天 (tiān, "heaven, sky"), expressing love, joy and blessings.
Why these characters?
乐 (joy, happiness; music) answers the "laugh" in Isaac's meaning, and 天 (heaven, sky) rounds it off as a typical ending for boys' names.
Character breakdown
9 strokes total (simplified)- 乐
lè
Tone 4 · 5 strokes (simplified)
joy, happiness; music
- 天
tiān
Tone 1 · 4 strokes (simplified)
heaven, sky
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balanced
A balance of sound and meaning
艾乐
Ài Lè
艾 (ài, "mugwort; beautiful (classical)") + 乐 (lè, "joy, happiness; music"): echoes the sound of the English name while carrying meaning.
Why these characters?
It keeps 艾 (ài), the same opening character as the transliteration 艾萨克, for the "i" sound, and replaces the rest with 乐 ("joy, happiness; music") so the whole reads as a real given name.
Character breakdown
11 strokes total (simplified)- 艾
ài
Tone 4 · 6 strokes (simplified)
mugwort; beautiful (classical)
- 乐
lè
Tone 4 · 5 strokes (simplified)
joy, happiness; music
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Stroke order
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Recent US usage of Isaac
In the Social Security Administration’s 2020–2025 snapshot, Isaac ranked 42 among names recorded for boys, with 39,997 registrations in that group across the period. These are US birth-name records, rather than search counts or a ranking of Chinese names. The period covers part of a decade; it is not a final ranking for the whole 2020s.
Compare the dated figures in the SSA’s official 2020s name table. This snapshot was checked on 2026-10-15; any historical figures on this page describe their own stated period.
Popularity in the US
US Social Security records show 274,356 boys named Isaac since 1880, with the high point in 2007 (10,258 births) and the busiest decade being the 2000s. Between 1990 and 2017 it climbed, from #132 to #33 among boys.
- Peak year
- 2007
- Peak decade
- 2000s
- First year
- 1880
- Total since 1880
- 274,356
More About Isaac in Chinese
The Chinese translation of Isaac offers multiple styles to suit different preferences. Whether you prefer a phonetic transliteration that sounds like your name, or a meaningful interpretation that captures the essence of Isaac, you'll find options that work for you.
If you're exploring Chinese names for boys, you might also be interested in Evan in Chinese, Luke in Chinese, and Juan in Chinese. Each name has its own unique character combinations and meanings.
Other popular choices include Stephen in Chinese, Lucas in Chinese, and Bryan in Chinese, each with beautiful traditional and simplified character options.
When choosing Chinese characters for Isaac, consider whether you want:
- Phonetic accuracy: Characters that sound like Isaac to native Chinese speakers
- Meaningful symbolism: Characters chosen for their beautiful meanings and cultural significance
- Balanced approach: A combination of sound and meaning that works well in both languages
Browse our complete A-Z index of Chinese names to explore more options, or start with our curated list of popular names in Chinese to see what others are choosing.
Frequently asked questions
How is Isaac translated into Chinese?
艾萨克 (Ài Sà Kè), or 艾薩克 in traditional script. This is the conventional transliteration used in Chinese media.
How many strokes does 艾萨克 have?
24 strokes in simplified form and 29 in traditional; per character: 艾 6, 萨 11, 克 7.
Is Isaac written differently in traditional Chinese?
Yes: 艾萨克 becomes 艾薩克; the changed characters are 萨→薩. Use traditional for Taiwan or Hong Kong audiences.