Isabel

Heart
Spanish variation of Elizabeth
"pledged to God"

Isabel Origin and Meaning

The name Isabel is a girl's name of Spanish origin meaning "pledged to God".

Isabel derived from Elizabeth in southwest Europe during the Middle Ages. It was originally written as Elisabel, but the first syllable was dropped as it spread across the continent. In Spain and Portugal, Isabel and Elizabeth are considered to be variations of the same name, but they are treated as separate names in other European countries and the US.

The charming Isabel is hugely fashionable again, a century after its first wave of success. And it's easy to see why: it's ladylike (a la Isabel Archer in Henry James's Portrait of a Lady) and melodic, traditional yet slightly offbeat. Isabel sounds smart as well as pretty.

Two noted cultural namesakes are Chilean author Isabel Allende and painter Isabel Bishop, as well as Cuban-American fashion designer Isabel Toledo.

The only downside: with Isabella's recent popularity, there are so many other little Isabels, Isabelles, Isabellas, Belles, and Bellas, yours would be far from unique.

The Office's Angela Kinsley named her baby girl Isabel, and Annette Bening and Warren Beatty have a teen-aged Isabel.

Isabelle is the French version, Isabella the Italian one, and Isobel the Scottish spelling, which has a definite character of her own, the 'o' giving her an extra infusion of strength.

Nifty nicknames include Izzy, Ibby, Isa and Belle.

# 156 in the US

Isabel Rank in US Top 1000

# 248 on Nameberry

Isabel Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

Isabel Popularity

20 Names Similar to Isabel

These 20 names were selected by our users that were looking for other names like Isabel.

Famous People Named Isabel

  • Isabel the CatholicQueen of Castile, Leon, and Aragon, mother of Catherine of Aragon and Joanna I of Castile
  • Maria Isabel Francisca of PortugalQueen consort of Ferdinand VII of Spain
  • Isabel of CoimbraQueen consort of Afonso V of Portugal
  • Isabel InêsPrincess Royal of Portugal, Duchess of Braganza, wife of Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganza, pretender to the defunct Portuguese throne
  • Isabel Cristina Leopoldina Augusta Micaela Gabriela Rafaela GonzagaPrincess Imperial of Brazil
  • Isabel Allende (Llona)Chilean,American novelist
  • Maria Estela "Isabel" Martinez Cartas de Peron41st President of Argentina
  • Isabel BayrakdarianArmenian,American operatic soprano
  • Isabel Godin des OdonaisPeruvian Amazon explorer
  • Eloise Gwendolyn "Isabel" SanfordAmerican actress
  • Isabel LucasAustralian actress
  • Isabel ToledoCuban,American designer
  • Isabel BishopAmerican artist and painter
  • Isabel BigleyAmerican actress
  • Isabel NevilleDuchess of Clarence, daughter of Kingmaker Earl of Warwick
  • Isabel Luisa JosefaPrincess of Beira; daughter of Peter II of Portugal
  • Isabel Maria Alberta Josefa Micaela Gabriela Rafaela Francisca de Paula e de Assis Teresa Adelaide Eulália Sofia Carolina of BraganzaInfante of Portugal; daughter of Duke Miguel
  • Isabel Alfonsa María Teresa Antonia Cristina Mercedes Carolina Adelaida Rafaela of BourbonTwo Sicilies, Infanta of Spain; daughter of Prince Carlos
  • Isabel Maria da Conceição Joana Gualberta Ana Francisca de Assis Xavier de Paula de Alcântara Antónia Rafaela Micaela Gabriela Joaquina GonzagaInfanta and Regent of Portugal
  • Maria Isabel "Chabeli" IglesiasSpanish socialite; daughter of singer Julio Iglesias and (Maria) Isabel Preysler
  • Rosario Isabel DawsonAmerican actress
  • (Maria) Isabel Pantoja (Martin)singer
  • Isabel Briggs MyersAmerican author and personality inventory creator
  • Isabel Gomez (b. 2000)daughter of actress Natasha Klauss and Victor Gomez
  • Isabel Crick (b. 2006)daughter of TV journalist Michael Crick
  • Isabel Ruby Lieberstein (b. 2008)daughter of actress Angela Kinsey and Warren Lieberstein
  • Isabel Veronica Mulroney (b. 2013)daughter of TV presenter Ben Mulroney and designer Jessica Brownstein
  • Isabel Totti (b. 2016)daughter of footballer Francesco Totti and TV host Ilary Blasi

Isabel in Pop Culture

  • Isabel O'Sullivana main character in the "St Clare" book series by Enid Blyton
  • Isabel Archermain character in Henry James' "The Portrait of a Lady"
  • Isabel Cantellimain character in 'Goddess of Legend' by PC Cast
  • Isabel Evanscharacter on TV's "Roswell"
  • Isabel Bradleycharacter in W. Somerset Maugham's "The Razor's Edge"
  • Isabel Gardnermain character in "Chains" by Laurie Halse Anderson
  • Isabel "Belly" Conklinmain character in Jenny Han's "The Summer I Turned Pretty"
  • Isabel Gutierrezcharacter on TV's "The Simpsons"
  • Isabelcharacter on TV's "Hannah Montana"
  • Isabel Malonecharacter in novel "Mosquitoland"
  • Isabel Culpepercharacter in the Wolves of Mercy Falls series by Maggie Stiefvater
  • Isabel "Isa" Castillo Florescharacter on TV's "Elena of Avalor"
  • Isabel Magnoliacharacter from "Attack on Titan"
  • "Isabel" song by Frank Turner
  • "Isabel" song by The Wombats
  • Lady Isabel and the ElfKnight, medieval ballad
  • IsabelJulia Roberts's character in the film "Stepmom"
  • Isabelcharacter in Pam Munoz Ryan's "Esperanza Rising".