MallowbyNames

Isabella

iz-uh-BEL-uh · Latinate form of Isabel, a medieval Spanish and Provençal development of Elizabeth, from Hebrew Elisheva, usually interpreted as "my God is an oath."

2025 rank (girls)
#7
Babies named in 2025
10,666
Peak popularity
2010
2025 frequency
1 in 151 girls
Usually for
Girls
Trend
Declining since 2010

Declining since 2010, #7 for girls today.

Popularity of Isabella since 1880

Babies named Isabella per year in U.S. Social Security records.

7.6k15.3k22.9k1880192019602000Most births 2010Girls
Data table (by decade)
DecadeGirls
1880s603
1890s903
1900s1,038
1910s2,046
1920s2,095
1930s1,079
1940s774
1950s590
1960s429
1970s296
1980s567
1990s18,762
2000s149,571
2010s170,605
2020s67,643

Meaning & origin

Few names owned the 2000s the way Isabella did. From near-dormancy in the early 1980s it climbed the American charts for two straight decades, finishing as the country's most popular girls' name in 2009 and 2010. The Twilight effect was real but is often overstated, Isabella was already a top-five name before Bella Swan reached movie theaters, riding the same wave of full-length, vowel-rich Latinate names that lifted Sophia and Olivia.

Since that 2010 peak the line has pointed steadily down, though "down" is doing gentle work: at rank 7 in 2025, Isabella still goes to about one American girl in 151. Its best states are Delaware, Rhode Island, and Nevada, a scattered map that mostly reflects how evenly the name blankets the country.

Part of Isabella's staying power is its portability. Spanish, Italian, and English speakers all claim it comfortably, it shortens to Bella, Izzy, or Belle depending on temperament, and its royal résumé runs from medieval England to the unification of Spain. Names with that much surface area rarely fall fast, and Isabella's slow drift from the top looks more like settling than collapse.

Isabel arose in medieval Iberia and southern France as a vernacular form of Elizabeth (Hebrew Elisheva, usually glossed "my God is an oath"); Isabella is its Latinate form, standard in Italy and in the Latin records of medieval courts. Queens carried it across Europe, Isabella of Angoulême and Isabella of France in England, and Isabella I of Castile, who financed Columbus, so by the late Middle Ages English usage treated Isabella and Isabel as interchangeable royal names. In America it idled mid-chart for a century, faded after the 1940s, then began an extraordinary climb in the 1990s that ended in back-to-back number-one finishes in 2009 and 2010, with the Twilight heroine Isabella "Bella" Swan supplying the final push.

Read more: Isabella on Wikipedia

Where Isabella is most popular

Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.

2020s
Fewermore per 100k girlstoo few births

Isabella” around the world

Where Isabella lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.

  • France

    60

    babies in 2024

  • Ireland

    #48

    in 2025

  • New Zealand

    #15

    in 2025

  • Quebec

    54

    babies in 2025

  • Australia (NSW)

    #17

    in 2025

Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand) · Retraite Québec (Quebec) · NSW Registry of BDM (Australia (NSW)).

Nicknames & variants

Nicknames: Bella, Izzy, Belle, Isa

Variants: Isabel, Isabelle, Isobel, Izabella

Famous people named Isabella

Sibling names for Isabella

Names that share Isabella's style, for a brother or sister.

Sisters: Sophia, Amelia, Gabriella, Olivia, Valentina, Camila, Chloe, Gianna, Sofia, Adriana, Alexa, Alexandra, Alexandria, Alexia, Alicia, Alivia, Anastasia, Angelica, Angelina, Ariana, Arianna, Bianca, Carmen, Clarissa, Daniela, Elliana, Emely, Gabriela, Juliana, Liliana, Lilliana, Mercedes, Natalia, Paola, Rylie, Serena, Valeria, Viviana, Ximena, Abriella, Abril, Addyson, Adelyn, Adrianna, Aitana, Alecia, Aleena, Alejandra, Alessa, Alessandra, Alessia, Alexandrea, Alexie, Alycia, Alysia, Alyvia, Amalia, Anabella, Anahi, Annabella, Annalisa, Arely, Aryanna, Beatriz, Belen, Camilla, Carlotta, Carolina, Casandra, Catalina, Catarina, Caydence, Celina, Chloey, Corina, Cristina, Daniella, Dayana, Dayanara, Elayna, Eleanora, Ellianna, Eloisa, Elsy, Emelia, Esmeralda, Estefania, Estefany, Evangelina, Evelin, Fabiola, Faviola, Francesca, Francisca, Galilea, Georgina, Giada, Giana, Giavanna, Giovanna, Giuliana, Grecia, Ileana, Iliana, Jaqueline, Jessa, Jimena, Jovanna, Julianna, Julieta, Karolina, Katalina, Leonor, Leonora, Leticia, Letitia, Lianna, Lilianna, Lolita, Lorenza, Luciana, Lupe, Lupita, Maira, Manuela, Mariana, Mariela, Mariella, Mariely, Marisol, Miabella, Micaela, Nataly, Nathalia, Nathaly, Nicola, Paloma, Raquel, Rebeca, Reyna, Rosalia, Rosalinda, Rosanna, Sarahi, Stefani, Vanesa, Xiomara, Yamile, Abbigale, Abbygail, Abygail, Adalina, Adamari, Adamaris, Alejandrina, Alexius, Alexsandra, Alexzandria, Alisia, Aly, Alyanna, Amiah, Amilia, Anahy, Analeigh, Anali, Analicia, Analy, Anamaria, Andreina, Andriana, Angelee, Angelena, Angeli, Angelie, Angelika, Anjelica, Annalia, Antonina, Ariadna, Arianny, Aribella, Arieanna, Arisbeth, Ariyanna, Arriana, Aubrielle, Brianda, Camillia, Carlota, Caterina, Christinia, Dayami, Dayanna, Delfina, Deysi, Divina, Dominica, Eimy, Eleana, Eleonora, Ellena, Elysa, Elyza, Emalee, Emarie, Emeli, Emili, Emiliana, Emilly, Emmalynn, Emmanuella, Estefani, Estephanie, Evalina, Evalynn, Fiorella, Florencia, Franchesca, Gabriell, Gisella, Gissell, Hayli, Izabel, Josephina, Julieth, Julietta, Karely, Kataleya, Kathia, Klaire, Lillyana, Lillyanna, Lucia, Lucianna, Lucila, Madelynne, Malena, Mariaelena, Mariajose, Marielena, Maryah, Matilde, Mayte, Michaella, Micheala, Milania, Mirabella, Mirian, Nahomy, Natali, Nayelli, Nicolina, Noemy, Olyvia, Oriana, Rafaela, Romelia, Rosamaria, Rosana, Sanjuana, Serafina, Sianna, Violetta, Vivianna, Yamilet, Yanira, Yoselyn, Aariana, Abbagail, Abbygale, Abella, Abigaile, Adamary, Ailynn, Airabella, Alahna, Alesandra, Alexanderia, Alexiah, Alexiana, Alexsa, Alexya, Aleyza, Alicea, Aliciana, Alisandra, Alissandra, Alissia, Aliviah, Allee, Allyana, Alynna, Alyxandra, Ameliah, Amellia, Amely, Amelya, Amillia, Anaisa, Analiah, Analie, Analis, Analiz, Anasofia, Angeleah, Angelicia, Angelli, Angellica, Angelyna, Angy, Anjelina, Annali, Annalicia, Annaly, Aracelli, Arianah, Ariani, Ariann, Ariannah, Arianni, Ariany, Avagrace, Avalina, Avamarie, Camilia, Cesilia, Christella, Constanza, Cristela, Damiana, Dannah, Danyella, Eliany, Eliyana, Elleanna, Ellieana, Ellisa, Ellyanna, Elyssia, Elyzabeth, Emaleigh, Emaly, Emalynn, Emelina, Emelly, Emilea, Emillie, Emilyann, Emmalea, Emmalina, Emmanuela, Emmarose, Emmelia, Emylee, Estefanie, Evangelyn, Evita, Feliciana, Florina, Francia, Gabrianna, Gabryella, Geanna, Geovanna, Giabella, Gianella, Giannina, Giavanni, Giavonni, Gimena, Gionna, Giovana, Grabiela, Graziella, Illeana, Izamar, Jenetta, Jessia, Jezabel, Jhoana, Juanda, Kamyla, Karmella, Katalyna, Katerin, Katiana, Kaytee, Khristina, Lareina, Leonela, Leydi, Lillyanne, Liset, Liseth, Lizett, Loyola, Lucrezia, Luisana, Madalin, Madalyne, Maddy, Madilynne, Manuella, Mariafernanda, Mariaisabel, Marialuisa, Marianela, Maribell, Maribella, Marisella, Maritsa, Maryana, Marycruz, Maygen, Mersadies, Miangel, Michella, Mikaella, Mikella, Mikhaila, Miliana, Monalisa, Monserat, Nataliah, Nayara, Nayelie, Nohemy, Olimpia, Oliviah, Oliviana, Olivya, Rafaella, Raffaela, Raphaela, Reigna, Rozetta, Sarafina, Senora, Sofiya, Sophee, Sophi, Sophya, Victorya, Xaviera, Yamila, Yeimy, Yvanna, Abagayle, Abbegail, Adaliah, Adalyna, Adamarys, Adelyna, Adrianah, Adriella, Adriyanna, Aleksia, Alessandria, Alexzandrea, Aliany, Alicha, Alivya, Allessandra, Allina, Allycia, Alyviah, Alyzabeth, Amarilys, Amayrani, Ameilia, Ameliyah, Amiliana, Amylee, Anaalicia, Anabela, Anacristina, Analeigha, Analena, Analya, Analysia, Anasophia, Anastashia, Angeliz, Angellina, Annalina, Annalissa, Annalysa, Annalysia, Annalyssa, Annasophia, Annastacia, Annelisa, Anthonella, Antoria, Arabell, Ariabella, Ariahna, Arielis, Artemisa, Aryannah, Aryiana, Aryianna, Atheena, Ayrabella, Azriella, Bellamarie, Cabella, Camilah, Catalia, Catalyna, Cathalina, Christabella, Christabelle, Costella, Danniella, Danyela, Darielys, Edlin, Elainah, Eleanna, Elianis, Elisea, Elissia, Eliyanna, Elizeth, Ellianah, Ellyssa, Emalia, Emelynn, Emilianna, Emillia, Emilya, Emmalia, Emmalyne, Emmalynne, Emmamarie, Emmilyn, Esperanza, Evalynne, Evelia, Evelyna, Gabbriella, Gabbrielle, Gabriana, Graciella, Guilianna, Guliana, Gulianna, Ileanna, Iviana, Jaeliana, Jaianna, Jamilet, Jeorgia, Juliani, Juliannah, Julionna, Julliana, Julyana, Karolyne, Katalia, Kathalina, Katianna, Leidy, Lillias, Lilyonna, Lucciana, Macarena, Mariaclara, Mariaha, Marianny, Marieli, Marielis, Marycarmen, Micaella, Mikhaela, Miquela, Mirranda, Mishel, Moraima, Natalyah, Natalye, Nattalie, Oliviagrace, Olivianna, Omayra, Pahola, Princesa, Renesme, Sabrinna, Safira, Santia, Saraiah, Seferina, Sharlotte, Sheyli, Sofiah, Sophiah, Sophiamarie, Sophina, Sophiya, Talita, Thereasa, Vicktoria, Vitoria, Yarelli, Yulieth, Zabella, Zoella, Ahriana, Alexsandria, Alicianna, Allecia, Allyssia, Anaclara, Angalina, Arabela, Delailah, Emalina, Emmajo, Estefanny, Estephani, Gianelle, Halayna, Lilleigh, Marabella, Mija, Sophiarose, Abbagayle, Abbigal, Adabella, Adanely, Adrieana, Ahrianna, Alegandra, Aleighna, Alejandria, Alexandera, Alexandrya, Alexea, Alexias, Alexiya, Alexxia, Alezandra, Alianis, Allesandra, Amaliah, Amayrany, Ameliya, Amilliana, Analycia, Anapaola, Anastaisa, Angeliah, Anitta, Anjolina, Annalaya, Annaliz, Anyelina, Areyana, Ariatna, Arielly, Arielys, Aryona, Avagail, Avannah, Bellanie, Bianna, Catalena, Cathaleya, Danahi, Danielys, Daniyla, Danniela, Dariella, Elaiza, Eliahna, Elianni, Elisabel, Elizabella, Elizabelle, Elliannah, Elliyana, Emanuella, Emila, Emiliah, Emilygrace, Emmaclaire, Emmaleah, Emmalena, Emmilia, Emylia, Erabella, Evella, Fransheska, Gabrella, Gabrielly, Gabrille, Gianah, Gracianna, Ivannah, Izzabell, Jaonna, Jaquelinne, Jasime, Jerusalen, Jezabelle, Jiovanna, Juliahna, Jullianna, Julyanna, Kabella, Karmina, Katherinne, Leliana, Liliahna, Lillianah, Lilliauna, Lillieanna, Lilyanah, Luzma, Madalee, Mady, Mariabelen, Marializ, Marialy, Mariany, Mariavictoria, Marybella, Maryela, Mayelin, Meria, Michaelia, Milaina, Montzerrat, Morayma, Nataliyah, Natelie, Nathali, Oliviarose, Princessa, Raphaella, Sarabella, Sarabelle, Seba, Secilia, Soffia, Sofhia, Solita, Stellah, Tahtiana, Tallia, Victora, Victoriah, Vyctoria, Ximenna, Yarielys, Zacaria

Brothers: Sebastian, Alexander, Julian, Gabriel, Nicholas, Anthony, Mateo, Thiago, Alejandro, Alfredo, Angel, Angelo, Armando, Cristian, Damian, Dominick, Eduardo, Emanuel, Emmanuel, Fernando, Francisco, Giovanni, Gustavo, Jaime, Jake, Jesus, Jorge, Josue, Juan, Lorenzo, Luis, Mario, Matias, Maximiliano, Miguel, Nicolas, Nikolas, Rafael, Ramon, Raphael, Raul, Roberto, Rodrigo, Sergio, Tomas, Ty, Vicente, Xavier, Adolfo, Agustin, Aleczander, Alexandro, Alexzander, Alfonso, Alonso, Alphonso, Alvaro, Andru, Anibal, Benito, Bernardo, Camilo, Cesar, Claudio, Cristobal, Cristopher, Dante, Dario, Domingo, Efrain, Eliseo, Eloy, Emiliano, Emilio, Ernesto, Esteban, Estevan, Ezequiel, Fabian, Felipe, Ferdinand, Gian, Gianni, Giovani, Giovanny, Gonzalo, Gregorio, Hernan, Humberto, Isai, Izaiah, Jacobi, Jaeden, Jairo, Javier, Joaquin, Joseangel, Jovani, Jovanni, Jullian, Karlos, Lazaro, Leandro, Leonardo, Leonel, Leopoldo, Luciano, Manny, Marcelo, Marco, Marcos, Marquez, Matteo, Mauricio, Maxim, Maximillian, Maximo, Moises, Montez, Nehemias, Nick, Octavio, Orlando, Ricardo, Rico, Rob, Romeo, Ronaldo, Sabastian, Salvador, Salvadore, Santino, Tadeo, Teodoro, Ulises, Valentin, Valentino, Vincenzo, Abelardo, Alexavier, Alexsander, Amadeo, Americo, Antoni, Arsenio, Augusto, Benicio, Benjamen, Bernardino, Carlito, Carmello, Cecilio, Cristhian, Cristiano, Cristofer, Dagoberto, Dimas, Domonic, Elyas, Esai, Esequiel, Ethen, Favian, Fransisco, Gavino, Geovani, Geovanni, Geovanny, Geovany, Gionni, Giorgio, Giovany, Giovonni, Izaac, Jacobo, Jamon, Jeancarlos, Jeramiah, Jeremias, Jeronimo, Jiovanni, Joseluis, Jovanny, Juancarlos, Juanpablo, Juaquin, Karmelo, Lauro, Lisandro, Macario, Marciano, Marcoantonio, Matheo, Michaelangelo, Michelangelo, Migel, Miguelangel, Natanael, Neymar, Nickolaus, Nicolo, Osbaldo, Patricio, Renato, Richardo, Roderic, Rodriquez, Romello, Romero, Serafin, Timoteo, Vincente, Willian, Yariel, Yovani, Abrahan, Albaro, Alegandro, Alekzander, Alexandar, Alyjah, Amedeo, Andrue, Andruw, Angello, Anthoni, Anthonio, Antionio, Antoino, Aristeo, Augustino, Aureliano, Bejamin, Benedetto, Calixto, Camillo, Carlitos, Cayetano, Chavez, Christiano, Christobal, Chrystopher, Cristoval, Cruzito, Demetruis, Diago, Dionisio, Dominico, Domonick, Donatello, Elier, Elijiah, Eliu, Ellias, Emanual, Emelio, Emillio, Enmanuel, Enrrique, Esteven, Ethaniel, Ezariah, Fransico, Frederico, Froylan, Gaberial, Gaberiel, Giancarlos, Gillermo, Giovannie, Giuliano, Hernando, Jaasiel, Jakeb, Januel, Javi, Javiel, Jeferson, Jencarlos, Jeovanni, Jeovany, Jhoan, Jhonatan, Jiovani, Jiovanny, Johncarlos, Jorje, Josafat, Joshue, Jossue, Juanantonio, Juanjose, Juanmanuel, Larenzo, Leoncio, Lorenso, Luccas, Marchello, Martinez, Maximilliano, Maximillion, Micael, Michaell, Missael, Mizael, Nicanor, Nichalos, Nicholi, Nicholis, Nicholos, Nicholus, Nickalus, Octaviano, Oseas, Ovidio, Perez, Rafeal, Recardo, Reginaldo, Remigio, Rodriguez, Romulo, Rudolpho, Rumaldo, Santhiago, Sebastain, Serjio, Stephano, Teofilo, Tres, Victorino, Victorio, Vinicius, Vivan, Yoshua, Zacari, Zacarias, Abelino, Alecsander, Alexande, Alexio, Alezander, Alixander, Amilio, Armondo, Arthuro, Athony, Canelo, Cebastian, Chistian, Crisanto, Davier, Deigo, Demetreus, Donaldo, Ediel, Edvardo, Edwar, Eliano, Eliceo, Elijio, Elizandro, Erique, Erubiel, Estaban, Estefan, Estiven, Eulises, Fabion, Favio, Feliciano, Ferdinando, Fernandez, Franciso, Fredrico, Gabreil, Geovonni, Govanni, Grabiel, Gualberto, Gustabo, Isais, Izekiel, Jabier, Jaciel, Jilberto, Jjesus, Jobany, Jocob, Joeanthony, Johncarlo, Joncarlos, Josean, Jovannie, Juanangel, Leovardo, Liandro, Luisantonio, Luisenrique, Maicol, Marrio, Matheu, Mathius, Mattheo, Maurico, Maurisio, Maxamus, Maxemiliano, Maxmillian, Miqueas, Niccolas, Nichalas, Nicklos, Nickoles, Nickoli, Nykolas, Oliverio, Panfilo, Ralpheal, Raymondo, Romon, Romualdo, Sabastion, Stiven, Torres, Tulio, Vinicio, Yancarlos, Yanuel, Ygnacio, Alecxander, Anastasio, Dalessandro, Isaiahs, Jhair, Josejulian, Maxamillian, Adalid, Albeiro, Alekxander, Alexanderjames, Alexsandro, Allex, Amiliano, Anjelo, Antario, Anthonny, Anyelo, Avier, Bolivar, Cristofher, Domnic, Duvan, Edinson, Eduar, Egidio, Elih, Elisio, Elizeo, Emilliano, Emmanuell, Estefano, Estephan, Estiben, Fernado, Franciscojavier, Franko, Geovannie, Gerado, Giordan, Giovanne, Giovonnie, Givanni, Hernandez, Indalecio, Isandro, Issiac, Jackob, Jahvier, Javy, Jaycub, Jhovani, Jiovany, Jiovonni, Joaovictor, Josealfredo, Josedaniel, Josehua, Josejuan, Joshia, Jozeph, Jsaon, Juandaniel, Laureano, Lautaro, Lexander, Loranzo, Lucciano, Luiscarlos, Luismanuel, Maikol, Malaquias, Mataeo, Mattheu, Nichlos, Nicholous, Nickalos, Nickalous, Nikholas, Nikolus, Nocholas, Pedrohenrique, Pepe, Raffael, Rangel, Romaldo, Santy, Sebasthian, Silviano, Thoams, Tomothy, Topher, Torrez, Ustin, Valeriano, Victorhugo, Wilian, Zacchary, Zacharee, Zeferino

Names like Isabella

Names whose popularity has moved with Isabella's over the last 50 years.

A parent animal hugging its little one, the personalized name page

I is for Isabella, our favorite little girl.

I is for Isabella…”

In a Mallowby alphabet book, Isabella's letter becomes Isabella's page: hand-illustrated, printed hardcover or paperback, made just for them.

Make Isabella's book

Books for siblings or grandkids? The second book is 15% off.

Questions parents ask

What does Isabella mean?
Isabella is the Latinate form of Isabel, which developed in medieval Spain and southern France from Elizabeth. The Hebrew source name, Elisheva, is usually interpreted as "my God is an oath."
How popular is Isabella?
Isabella ranked 7th among American girls in 2025, given to roughly one girl in 151. That is down from its peak years, it was the country's number-one girls' name in 2009 and 2010, but it has stayed inside the top ten ever since.
Is Isabella falling out of fashion?
It has been sliding gently since its 2010 peak, but from such a height that the decline barely registers in daily life. A name held at rank 7 for this long is fading in the data, not on playgrounds.
What are common nicknames for Isabella?
Bella is the runaway favorite, with Izzy, Belle, and Isa close behind. Many families use Isabella formally and Bella exclusively at home.
Isabella or Isabel, what is the difference?
They are the same name in different registers: Isabel is the spare Spanish and English form, Isabella the more ornate Latinate one. American parents currently prefer Isabella by a wide margin.