How to say it
iz · a · BEL · uh
ˌɪz.əˈbɛl.ə
Feminine
Isabella
God is my oath
What it means
Italian and Spanish form of Elizabeth, tracing back through Hebrew Elisheva to the same 'God is my oath' root.
Isabella was a queen's name long before it was a child's. Queen Isabella I of Castile (1451 to 1504) funded Columbus's voyages and unified Spain. Italian and Spanish royal lines kept the name in heavy use for centuries. The modern American wave was helped by Stephenie Meyer's Twilight novels (starting 2005) and the protagonist Isabella 'Bella' Swan: Isabella was the US top-five girls' name from 2008 to 2012. Latino communities continue to use Isabella (or Isabel) heavily. Common short forms are Bella, Izzy, Belle, and Isa.
How to spell Isabella
The standard spelling is Isabella. Common variants include Isabel, Ysabella, Izabella, Isobel, but Isabella is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #1 in 2009, currently #7 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
Bella covers most of the surface; Izzy, Ella, and Isa show up too.
- Pop culture
Twilight is the dominant US pop-culture reference. The intensity has faded but it'll still come up.
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.
- Isabella I of Castile 15th-century Spanish queen, funded Columbus
- Isabella Rossellini Italian actress and model, Blue Velvet
- Isabella Swan Bella in Stephenie Meyer's Twilight
Spelling variants
- Isabel
- Ysabella
- Izabella
- Isobel
Names with the same feeling
See Isabella from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Isabella mean?
- Italian and Spanish form of Elizabeth, tracing back through Hebrew Elisheva to the same 'God is my oath' root.
- What does Isabella mean in Italian?
- In Italian, Isabella means "God is my oath." Isabella was a queen's name long before it was a child's. Queen Isabella I of Castile (1451 to 1504) funded Columbus's voyages and unified Spain. Italian and Spanish royal lines kept the name in heavy use for centuries. The modern American wave was helped by Stephenie Meyer's Twilight novels (starting 2005) and the protagonist Isabella 'Bella' Swan: Isabella was the US top-five girls' name from 2008 to 2012. Latino communities continue to use Isabella (or Isabel) heavily. Common short forms are Bella, Izzy, Belle, and Isa.
- How do you pronounce Isabella?
- Isabella is pronounced ˌɪz.əˈbɛl.ə. Say it as iz-a-BEL-uh, with the stress on the "bel" syllable.
- How do you spell Isabella?
- The standard spelling is Isabella. Common spelling variants include Isabel, Ysabella, Izabella, Isobel.
- Is Isabella a boy or girl name?
- Isabella is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Isabella?
- Isabella ranked #7 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.