How to say it
IS · a · bel
/ˈɪz.ə.bɛl/
Feminine
Isabel
God is my oath
What it means
Medieval Spanish and Portuguese form of Elizabeth, from Hebrew Elisheva. Queen Isabella of Castile (Spanish Isabel) is the historical anchor; the modern Bella tree all leads back to here.
Isabel is the medieval Spanish and Portuguese form of Elizabeth, which traveled through Provence to England and back across Europe in different spellings (Isabel in Spanish, Isabella in Italian, Isabelle in French). Queen Isabel I of Castile (Spanish: Isabel la Católica, 1451-1504) co-ruled with Ferdinand of Aragon, completed the Reconquista, and funded Columbus. The English Isabel has been in use since the medieval period. Common shorts: Bella, Belle, Izzy, Sabel. The name is often given alongside Isabella (Italian) and Isabelle (French) — the same name, different spelling traditions.
Popularity over time
peaked at #83 in 2003, currently #177 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–present. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Spelling
Isabel (Spanish/Portuguese), Isabella (Italian), Isabelle (French), and Isobel (Scottish) are all the same name in different traditions. Isabel reads slightly more European than Isabella in US contexts.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Queen Isabel I of Castile Co-ruled Spain with Ferdinand of Aragon, funded Columbus's 1492 voyage
- Isabel Allende Chilean-American novelist, The House of the Spirits
Spelling variants
- Isabella
- Isabelle
- Isobel
Names with the same feeling
See Isabel from another angle
By meaning
By style