girl's name
Isabelle
IZ-a-bel
- Origin Hebrew
- Gender Girl
- Syllables 3
- Letters 8
- Popularity Top 100 (E&W)
- Births on record 552,241
the United States
#166
2025 births
Isabelle is a girl's name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my oath." It is the French form of Isabel, which began as a medieval Spanish and Provençal reshaping of Elizabeth — the two are the same name.
- Isabelle is a name of Hebrew origin.
- Peaked in France in 1965, when 23,975 babies were given the name.
- Its usage has held steady over the past decade in France.
- Today about 1 in 647 babies in England and Wales is given this name.
- First appears in birth records in 1900.
- 3 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Isabelle over time
Births per decade in France, 1900s to 2020s. Isabelle is more popular in England and Wales — see the country table below. The striped bar is the 2020s, still in progress — it covers 2020 to 2025, not a full ten years.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 5,280 |
| 1910s | 3,590 |
| 1920s | 3,965 |
| 1930s | 3,040 |
| 1940s | 3,740 |
| 1950s | 35,060 |
| 1960s | 186,475 |
| 1970s | 107,325 |
| 1980s | 22,810 |
| 1990s | 4,415 |
| 2000s | 1,400 |
| 2010s | 855 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 415 |
What Isabelle means
Isabelle means God is my oath, or God is my abundance, inherited from Elizabeth. Medieval speakers heard the El- of Elisabet as the Spanish article and dropped it, which is how the name lost its opening syllable.
Where Isabelle comes from
Isabelle traces to the Hebrew Elisheva, God is my oath, which reached Europe as Elisabet. In medieval Spain and Provence the initial El- was mistaken for the definite article and shed, producing Isabel — a genuine linguistic accident rather than a deliberate variant. The name became royal on both sides of the Channel: Isabella of France married Edward II, and Isabella I of Castile funded Columbus. For centuries Isabel and Elizabeth were treated as interchangeable in royal documents, which is direct evidence that speakers knew they were one name.
Isabelle in use
Our data shows Isabelle stable, peaking in 1965, at 54 in England and Wales against 166 in the United States. It sits alongside Isabella, Isabel, Elizabeth, Eliza and Ellie — one root producing six separately ranked names, which is why the underlying name is far more used than any single entry shows.
How popular is Isabelle?
In 2025, Isabelle was given to 814 babies in England and Wales, ranking #54 that year. It is one of the most popular names in England and Wales.
Where Isabelle is used
French counts are rounded to the nearest five and nothing below five is published, so these figures show the shape of the name's use rather than an exact tally. Data & sources.
Names that peaked alongside Isabelle
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents who like Isabelle also like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Isabelle over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
10 nicknames for Isabelle
Each one is a name in its own right — the figure underneath is how it is doing today, so you can see which short forms are rising and which have faded.
Isabelle in other languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling names for Isabelle
Names from the same era that won't rhyme or share an initial with Isabelle — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common questions about Isabelle
What does the name Isabelle mean?
Isabelle means "God is my oath," from the Hebrew Elisheva by way of Elizabeth.
Are Isabelle and Elizabeth the same name?
Yes. Medieval Spanish speakers mistook the El- of Elisabet for the definite article and dropped it, producing Isabel.
What is the difference between Isabelle and Isabella?
Isabelle is the French form and Isabella the Italian and Spanish one. The meaning is identical.
How popular is the name Isabelle?
In 2025, Isabelle was given to 814 babies in England and Wales, ranking #54 that year. It is one of the most popular names in England and Wales.
Is Isabelle a girl's or a boy's name?
Isabelle is given almost entirely to girls in birth records.
How many syllables are in Isabelle?
Isabelle has 3 syllables.
When was Isabelle most popular?
Isabelle peaked in 1965, when 23,975 babies were given the name. Its usage has held steady over the past decade.
What are the nicknames for Isabelle?
Isabelle is usually shortened to Belle, Izzy, Bella, Ellie, Isa and Isabel.
Is Isabelle a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Isabelle currently ranks #35 in France. Its usage has held steady over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.