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Isabella

/iz-ə-BEL-ə/

Isabella is a girl name of Hebrew origin, meaning My God is an oath.

  • GenderGirl
  • OriginHebrew
  • StyleModern
  • Syllables4
  • US rank#7

What does Isabella mean?

My God is an oath

Isabella is the Italian and Spanish elaboration of Isabel, which is itself a medieval Occitan form of Elizabeth. The underlying Hebrew name Elisheva means "my God is an oath" or "my God is abundance".

The story behind the name

Isabel and Elizabeth were treated as the same name for much of the Middle Ages, and queens moved between the two forms freely. Isabella of Castile, who ruled jointly with Ferdinand of Aragon, unified Spain, completed the Reconquista, and funded the voyages of Columbus.

The name has an equally vivid English chapter in Isabella of France, the queen who deposed her husband Edward II and was nicknamed the She-Wolf of France.

In the modern era Isabella surged after 2005, given a considerable push by the Twilight novels, and reached number one for girls in the United States in 2009 and 2010.

Notable people named Isabella

  • Isabella I of Castile
  • Isabella of France, queen of England
  • Isabella Stewart Gardner, art collector
  • Isabella Rossellini, actor

How popular is Isabella?

Popularity in the United States

Isabella has been given to 361,449 babies in the United States since 1880, peaking in the 2010s. It has been climbing over the last two decades.

About 1 in 137 babies born in the United States were given this name in the most recent year on record.

011,47722,954188019502020
Babies named Isabella per year in the United States, 1880–2020. Source: Social Security Administration

Popularity in France

Isabella has been given to 1,657 babies in France since 1911, peaking in the 2010s. It has been climbing over the last two decades.

04080191119662022
Babies named Isabella per year in France, 1911–2022. Source: INSEE

Popularity in Spain

There are 5,931 people called Isabella living in Spain, with an average age of 11.5.

361,449 Babies named since 1880
2010s Peak decade
Rising Recent trend

Variants and related names

Other spellings: Isabela, Izabella, Isabel, Isobel

Related names: Elizabeth, Isabel, Bella, Isla, Eliza

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Frequently asked questions about Isabella

What does the name Isabella mean?

Isabella means My God is an oath. It is of Hebrew origin.

Is Isabella a boy's or a girl's name?

Isabella is most often given to girls.

How do you pronounce Isabella?

Isabella is pronounced iz-ə-BEL-ə.

How popular is the name Isabella?

Isabella has been given to 361,449 babies in the United States since 1880, peaking in the 2010s. It has been climbing over the last two decades.

What are other spellings of Isabella?

Common variants include Isabela, Izabella, Isabel, Isobel.