Isabel

At a Glance

Meaning

Spanish form of Elizabeth: 'my God is an oath'

Origin

Spanish (from Hebrew via Greek/Latin)

Gender

Girl

Pronunciation

IZ-uh-belListen

Isabel is the Spanish form of Elizabeth, meaning 'my God is an oath,' and it comes to English by way of Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. You'll often hear that it means 'beautiful,' but that's a sound-alike myth: the '-bel' ending has nothing to do with Spanish or Italian 'bella.' It's pronounced IZ-uh-bel, and it has a classic, romantic, storybook feel.

Meaning & Origin of Isabel

Meaning: Spanish form of Elizabeth: 'my God is an oath'.

Origin: Spanish (from Hebrew via Greek/Latin).

A common claim: Isabel is often said to mean 'beautiful', linking the '-bel' ending to Spanish/Italian 'bella' (beautiful). Actually: This is a false etymology based on sound-alike resemblance — Isabel is actually the Spanish form of Elizabeth, from Hebrew for 'my God is an oath'; the '-bel' has no connection to 'bella'.

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Isabel

Popularity of Isabel

Isabel peaked at #83 in 2003, when 3,853 baby girls were given the name, and it ranked #167 in 2024 with 1,820 babies. It's less common than it was at its height, but still a familiar name that's well within the top 200.

Names Like Isabel

These names share Isabel’s style, era or origin.

• Isabela
• Anabel
• Araceli
• Cristina
• Gabriela
• Josefina

FAQ

What does the name Isabel mean?

Spanish form of Elizabeth: ‘my God is an oath’. (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Isabel?

Isabel is pronounced IZ-uh-bel (IPA: /ˈɪzəbɛl/).

Is Isabel a popular name right now?

Isabel peaked at #83 in 2003 and is ranked #167 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

Make Isabel Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Isabel, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.