 The bay was discovered and first charted by the French Antarctic Expedition, 1908–10, under Jean-Baptiste Charcot, and named by him for the director of the Hydrographic Service of the French Navy Ferdinand Isidore Hanusse (1848–1921).Isacke Passage was also charted Charcot's expedition.It was named by the UK Antarctic Place-Names Committee for Captain Christopher J. Isacke, Royal Navy, commanding officer of HMS "Endurance" in the Antarctic Peninsula area, 1972–74.