Given name & surname
Issam
“one who is protected”
Issam is a variant of Isam. One Arabic interpretation is “one who is protected.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Issam is a variant of Isam. One Arabic interpretation is “one who is protected.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Issam is a variant of Isam. An origin associated with Isam is Arabic.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1975. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Issam through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 214
- 214 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 2021
- 13 babies
- 2025
- 6
- #11,190 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- 0%
- Steady
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 6 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 11,190 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was virtually unchanged in 2021–2025 compared with 2016–2020. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,221 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
People named Issam
- Issam JebaliTunisian association football playerborn 1991
- Issam JemâaTunisian association football playerborn 1984
- Issam ZahreddineSyrian1961–2017
- Issam El AdouaMoroccan footballerborn 1986
- Issam ChebakeMoroccan and French footballerborn 1989
- Issam BaddaMoroccan footballerborn 1983
- Issam MerdassiTunisian association football playerborn 1981
- Issam AbdallahLebanese journalist1986–2023
- Issam ErrakiMoroccan association football playerborn 1981
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Issam, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Alam
Alam is a surname.
>99% boys
Ayham
>99% boys
Nivam
>99% boys
Liiam
>99% boys
Ilman
>99% boys
Aitor
Aitor is a masculine given name from Basque. It is used in Spanish and Basque.
>99% boys
Artem
“safe and sound”
>99% boys
Amjad
“more glorious” · “having glory and honor”
>99% boys