The first name Isabel
A girl’s name from Hebrew meaning “my god is an oath”.
Pronounced /ˈɪzəbɛl/ 3 syllables Female Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Hebrew origin
Isabel means “my god is an oath” in Hebrew.
From Spanish Isabel, from Old Occitan Elisabel, from Latin Elisabeth, from Ancient Greek Ἐλισάβετ (Elisábet), from Hebrew אֱלִישֶׁבַע (Elishéva, “my God is an oath”). Doublet of Elizabeth.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 271 girls were named Isabel, making it the 184th most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 2006, with 1,281 births (#45).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Isabel with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Isabel at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 1,746 girls born in the United States were named Isabel, the 177th most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 2006, when 4,009 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Isabel in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
Spelled Isabel in Portuguese and Spanish too.
Nicknames and spellings
Famous people named Isabel
86 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Isabel AllendeChilean writer (born 1942)
- Isabel Martínez de PerónFirst female president of Argentina from 1974 to 1976
- Isabella of Portugal16th-century Holy Roman Empress and Queen of Spain (1503-1539)
- Isabel LucasAustralian actress and model, born 1985
- Isabel dos SantosAngolan businesswoman (born 1973)
- Princess Isabella of ParmaArchduchess of Austria, 1741–1763
- Isabel MayAmerican actress (born 2000)
- Isabel SarliArgentine actress (1929-2019)
- María Isabel UrrutiaColombian weightlifter and politician, born 1965
- Isabel SanfordAmerican actress (1917–2004)
- Isabelle of Orléans-BraganzaDescendant of the Brazilian imperial family, 1911–2003
- Isabella of BourbonFrench noble, 1436–1465
More Hebrew girls’ names
Questions
- What does the name Isabel mean?
- Isabel means “my god is an oath” in Hebrew.
- What is the origin of the name Isabel?
- From Spanish Isabel, from Old Occitan Elisabel, from Latin Elisabeth, from Ancient Greek Ἐλισάβετ (Elisábet), from Hebrew אֱלִישֶׁבַע (Elishéva, “my God is an oath”). Doublet of Elizabeth.
- How popular is the name Isabel?
- In 2025, 271 girls born in England and Wales were named Isabel, ranking 184th. Its peak was 2006, with 1,281 births.
- What are nicknames for Isabel?
- Common nicknames for Isabel include Libby, Bel, Izzy, Isa, Tibbie, Tibby.
- Is Isabel a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a girl's name: 99% of the 133,977 US babies named Isabel since 1880 were girls.
- When was Isabel most popular?
- 2006 in the United States, when 4,009 babies were named Isabel, its highest rank at 87th.
- How do you pronounce Isabel?
- Isabel is /ˈɪzəbɛl/, 3 syllables.
- What are other spellings of Isabel?
- Ysabel, Isobel, Isabell and Isobelle.
- Is Isabel also a surname?
- Yes. Isabel is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.