Fun Facts About the Name Isabella
- A newer favorite: Isabella first entered the U.S. top 100 in 1998 and stayed there through 2025 - a run of 28 consecutive years.
- More than 417 thousand babies named Isabella: U.S. records list 417,314 babies given the name Isabella from 1880 through 2025. Even 452 boys received the name Isabella - about 1 boy for every 922 girls.
What Does the Name Isabella Mean?
Isabella is an Italian and Spanish form of Isabel, which derives from Elizabeth. Elizabeth comes from the Hebrew name Elisheva (אֱלִישֶׁבַע), commonly understood to mean "God is my oath" or "my God is an oath." Some reference works give "God is abundance," linking the second element to a different Hebrew word, but the oath explanation is the more common one. The first element is el, "God"; the second element is related to an oath or swearing. Because Isabella reached Italian and Spanish through the Greek and Latin forms of the biblical name, its etymological meaning is the same as Elizabeth's.
The ending -bella resembles Italian and Spanish bella, "beautiful," but that resemblance is a later association, not the name's derivation. Isabel is the form from which Isabella is generally derived; Isabella developed as an elaborated variant with the suffix -ella. It is not a separate name from Elizabeth in origin, though it has its own history of use in Italy, Spain, Portugal, and later in other regions.
Isabella Name History & Origins
The name's ultimate source is the Hebrew Elisheva, borne in the Hebrew Bible by the wife of Aaron (Exodus 6:23). The Greek form Elisabet appears in the New Testament as the name of the mother of John the Baptist (Luke 1). From Greek and Latin Elisabeth, medieval European vernaculars developed forms such as Isabel, especially in France and the Iberian Peninsula. Isabella is the Italian and Spanish elaboration of that older form.
In the Middle Ages and Renaissance, the name was carried by prominent royal and noble women. Isabella of Angoulême (c. 1188 - 1246) became queen of England as the wife of King John. Isabella of France (c. 1295 - 1358) was queen of England as the wife of Edward II. Isabella I of Castile (1451 - 1504) ruled Castile and sponsored Christopher Columbus's first voyage. Isabella d'Este (1474 - 1539) was a leading patron of Renaissance art and learning. These historical bearers show the name's established use in European courts; they are not the origin of the name.
Literature also preserved the name. Shakespeare's Measure for Measure (early 1600s) has a novice named Isabella, and John Keats wrote the poem Isabella, or the Pot of Basil (1818), based on a story by Boccaccio. In Catholic tradition, Isabelle of France (1225 - 1270), sister of King Louis IX, founded a convent at Longchamp and was later canonized. In English, Isabel and Isabella were both used in the medieval period and afterward, often treated as variants of the same name.
How Popular is the Name Isabella?
Isabella recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2010. Isabella entered the top 100 U.S. girl names in 1998.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #7 | 10,666 | 0.6636% |
| 2024 | #7 | 10,770 | 0.6676% |
| 2023 | #7 | 10,853 | 0.6772% |
| 2022 | #6 | 11,747 | 0.7168% |
| 2021 | #7 | 11,297 | 0.6890% |
| 2020 | #7 | 12,217 | 0.7562% |
| 2019 | #5 | 13,404 | 0.7990% |
| 2018 | #4 | 14,568 | 0.8567% |
| 2017 | #4 | 15,254 | 0.8838% |
| 2016 | #5 | 14,861 | 0.8389% |
| 2015 | #5 | 15,661 | 0.8775% |
| 2014 | #4 | 17,133 | 0.9593% |
| 2013 | #4 | 17,679 | 1.0077% |
| 2012 | #3 | 19,134 | 1.0867% |
| 2011 | #2 | 19,930 | 1.1332% |
| 2010 | #1 | 22,935 | 1.2904% |
| 2009 | #1 | 22,319 | 1.2151% |
| 2008 | #2 | 18,628 | 0.9852% |
| 2007 | #2 | 19,143 | 0.9958% |
| 2006 | #4 | 18,231 | 0.9590% |
| 2005 | #6 | 15,198 | 0.8225% |
| 2004 | #7 | 15,021 | 0.8181% |
| 2003 | #12 | 13,781 | 0.7543% |
| 2002 | #14 | 12,171 | 0.6774% |
| 2001 | #28 | 8,835 | 0.4907% |
| 2000 | #45 | 6,242 | 0.3437% |
| 1999 | #60 | 5,060 | 0.2853% |
| 1998 | #84 | 3,851 | 0.2180% |
| 1997 | #114 | 2,862 | 0.1644% |
| 1996 | #151 | 2,112 | 0.1205% |
| 1995 | #174 | 1,739 | 0.0989% |
| 1994 | #222 | 1,277 | 0.0715% |
| 1993 | #319 | 830 | 0.0459% |
| 1992 | #488 | 508 | 0.0276% |
| 1991 | #699 | 305 | 0.0163% |
| 1990 | #890 | 217 | 0.0114% |
| 1989 | #1,178 | 139 | 0.0075% |
| 1988 | #1,608 | 81 | 0.0045% |
| 1987 | #1,636 | 75 | 0.0043% |
| 1986 | #1,870 | 60 | 0.0035% |
| 1985 | #2,722 | 35 | 0.0020% |
| 1984 | #2,641 | 35 | 0.0021% |
| 1983 | #2,805 | 31 | 0.0019% |
| 1982 | #2,662 | 35 | 0.0021% |
| 1981 | #2,460 | 39 | 0.0023% |
| 1980 | #2,619 | 36 | 0.0022% |
| 1979 | #3,581 | 22 | 0.0014% |
| 1978 | #2,964 | 27 | 0.0018% |
| 1977 | #3,211 | 24 | 0.0016% |
| 1976 | #3,129 | 23 | 0.0016% |
| 1975 | #2,533 | 31 | 0.0021% |
| 1974 | #2,637 | 28 | 0.0019% |
| 1973 | #2,372 | 32 | 0.0022% |
| 1972 | #2,330 | 32 | 0.0021% |
| 1971 | #2,014 | 42 | 0.0025% |
| 1970 | #2,095 | 39 | 0.0022% |
| 1969 | #2,368 | 30 | 0.0018% |
| 1968 | #2,659 | 23 | 0.0014% |
| 1967 | #1,767 | 43 | 0.0026% |
| 1966 | #1,679 | 45 | 0.0027% |
| 1965 | #1,837 | 39 | 0.0022% |
| 1964 | #1,713 | 46 | 0.0024% |
| 1963 | #1,604 | 50 | 0.0026% |
| 1962 | #1,658 | 47 | 0.0024% |
| 1961 | #1,570 | 52 | 0.0026% |
| 1960 | #1,511 | 54 | 0.0027% |
| 1959 | #1,573 | 48 | 0.0024% |
| 1958 | #1,474 | 53 | 0.0026% |
| 1957 | #1,319 | 65 | 0.0032% |
| 1956 | #1,303 | 64 | 0.0032% |
| 1955 | #1,297 | 61 | 0.0031% |
| 1954 | #1,383 | 53 | 0.0027% |
| 1953 | #1,221 | 63 | 0.0033% |
| 1952 | #1,200 | 63 | 0.0034% |
| 1951 | #1,164 | 65 | 0.0036% |
| 1950 | #1,243 | 55 | 0.0032% |
| 1949 | #1,094 | 68 | 0.0040% |
| 1948 | #996 | 77 | 0.0045% |
| 1947 | #977 | 82 | 0.0046% |
| 1946 | #971 | 74 | 0.0047% |
| 1945 | #969 | 64 | 0.0049% |
| 1944 | #884 | 75 | 0.0057% |
| 1943 | #818 | 90 | 0.0065% |
| 1942 | #922 | 72 | 0.0053% |
| 1941 | #722 | 96 | 0.0079% |
| 1940 | #818 | 76 | 0.0066% |
| 1939 | #737 | 86 | 0.0078% |
| 1938 | #689 | 100 | 0.0091% |
| 1937 | #664 | 105 | 0.0099% |
| 1936 | #751 | 80 | 0.0077% |
| 1935 | #695 | 93 | 0.0089% |
| 1934 | #704 | 90 | 0.0086% |
| 1933 | #603 | 116 | 0.0115% |
| 1932 | #581 | 128 | 0.0120% |
| 1931 | #556 | 139 | 0.0131% |
| 1930 | #572 | 142 | 0.0126% |
| 1929 | #549 | 155 | 0.0139% |
| 1928 | #519 | 178 | 0.0154% |
| 1927 | #523 | 182 | 0.0153% |
| 1926 | #511 | 187 | 0.0158% |
| 1925 | #489 | 205 | 0.0168% |
| 1924 | #458 | 231 | 0.0185% |
| 1923 | #454 | 228 | 0.0189% |
| 1922 | #429 | 241 | 0.0201% |
| 1921 | #449 | 236 | 0.0191% |
| 1920 | #420 | 252 | 0.0210% |
| 1919 | #392 | 274 | 0.0242% |
| 1918 | #411 | 254 | 0.0219% |
| 1917 | #410 | 237 | 0.0219% |
| 1916 | #401 | 246 | 0.0236% |
| 1915 | #387 | 242 | 0.0246% |
| 1914 | #389 | 187 | 0.0246% |
| 1913 | #375 | 165 | 0.0264% |
| 1912 | #362 | 161 | 0.0288% |
| 1911 | #353 | 129 | 0.0308% |
| 1910 | #312 | 151 | 0.0381% |
| 1909 | #375 | 97 | 0.0279% |
| 1908 | #336 | 112 | 0.0335% |
| 1907 | #310 | 126 | 0.0396% |
| 1906 | #320 | 110 | 0.0373% |
| 1905 | #329 | 105 | 0.0360% |
| 1904 | #348 | 88 | 0.0320% |
| 1903 | #317 | 96 | 0.0366% |
| 1902 | #346 | 84 | 0.0318% |
| 1901 | #315 | 92 | 0.0384% |
| 1900 | #290 | 128 | 0.0427% |
| 1899 | #306 | 94 | 0.0403% |
| 1898 | #336 | 86 | 0.0332% |
| 1897 | #314 | 86 | 0.0367% |
| 1896 | #311 | 88 | 0.0370% |
| 1895 | #306 | 90 | 0.0385% |
| 1894 | #288 | 92 | 0.0413% |
| 1893 | #252 | 109 | 0.0512% |
| 1892 | #285 | 88 | 0.0414% |
| 1891 | #279 | 79 | 0.0426% |
| 1890 | #263 | 91 | 0.0478% |
| 1889 | #263 | 80 | 0.0449% |
| 1888 | #299 | 63 | 0.0353% |
| 1887 | #280 | 58 | 0.0397% |
| 1886 | #229 | 80 | 0.0554% |
| 1885 | #291 | 48 | 0.0361% |
| 1884 | #216 | 76 | 0.0589% |
| 1883 | #245 | 54 | 0.0481% |
| 1882 | #263 | 44 | 0.0408% |
| 1881 | #218 | 50 | 0.0544% |
| 1880 | #215 | 50 | 0.0549% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #10,259 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2023 | #9,232 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2022 | #6,613 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2021 | #8,427 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2020 | #6,771 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2019 | #5,657 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2018 | #5,879 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2017 | #6,857 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2016 | #6,880 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2015 | #4,606 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 2014 | #4,444 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 2013 | #5,047 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2012 | #5,114 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 2011 | #3,932 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 2010 | #3,570 | 30 | 0.0016% |
| 2009 | #3,858 | 27 | 0.0014% |
| 2008 | #3,864 | 27 | 0.0013% |
| 2007 | #4,553 | 21 | 0.0010% |
| 2006 | #4,940 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 2005 | #5,125 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2004 | #2,326 | 49 | 0.0025% |
| 2003 | #4,501 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 2002 | #6,249 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2001 | #9,734 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2000 | #7,729 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1999 | #8,191 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1997 | #9,848 | 5 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Isabella
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
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How the Name Isabella Shapes Your Personality and Life?
Your tendency is to finish whatever you start. You like to use the pen or the needle (writing, fashion design etc). You are loving, compassionate, intuitive and humanitarian. Runs of luck, either good or bad, follow you. You are sympathetic, but at times might be touchy and oversensitive. You may have a gift for writing. You are intuitive and might be interested in the arts, drama or science.
You are very intuitive. You have a reservoir of inspired wisdom combined with inherited analytical ability, which could reward you through expressions of spiritual leadership, business analysis, marketing, artistic visions, and scientific research. Operating on spiritual side of your individuality can bring you to the great heights, and drop you off if you neglect your spiritual identity. You are always looking for an opportunity to investigate the unknown, to use and show your mental abilities, to find the purpose and meaning of life. You want to grow wise and to understand people and things. You need privacy to replenish your energy. You have a unique way of thinking, intuitive, reflective, absorbing.
✦ Isabella's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Isabella's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.