ISABEL  

Gender: F
Origin: Spanish variation of ELIZABETH
Meaning: "pledged to God"

Popularity in 2008: #96

Hugely fashionable again, a century after its first wave of success. Easy to see why: it's ladylike (a la Isabel Archer in Henry James's Portrait of a Lady) and melodic, traditional yet offbeat, and sounds smart as well as pretty. Only downside: so many other little Isabels, Isabelles, Isabellas, Belles, and Bellas. Isabelle is the French version, Isabella the Italian one, and Isobel the Scottish spelling.

Variations:
Issy, Isabal, Isabell, Isabeli, Ibbie, Belita, Ib, Issie, Izzie, Issi, Ibby, Sabelle, Sabella, Izzy, Isabele, Belle, Bel, Bell

International Variations:
Zobel (Armenian) Isabeau, Isabelle (French) Isobel, Isobella, Isobelle, Isa (German) Isibeal (Hebrew) Isibéal (Irish Gaelic) Isabella (Italian) Iza, Izabel (Polish) Izabele, Bela, Izabela, Izbel, Bella (Russian) Iseabail, Iseabal, Ishbel (Scottish) Isabelita, Ysabel, Ysabelle, Ysabella (Spanish)

People who like Isabel also like:

Alice, Charlotte, Juliet, Grace, Lily, Olivia, Violet, Henry, Jasper, Oliver

Isabel is being discussed in our message boards:

• Layla/Laila/Leyla/Leila?
• Sister for Anthony & Miranda
• Names of my Students
• Cheaper By the Dozen
• Middle Names for either CLAIRE or ABIGAIL

Read Nameberry blog posts about Isabel:

• SCOTTISH BABY NAMES: What's 'in' in Inverness?
• IRISH NAMES NOW: What's doing in Dublin?
• ELIZABETH: The Name That Has Everything?
• WHO ARE THE MOST POPULAR ENGLISH GIRLS?
• BABY NAME FEVER