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Origin, Meaning, And History Of Isabel
Isabel is a given name of French and Spanish origin. This name has several meanings, such as “God is my oath,” “pledged to God,” “my God is bountiful,” “God of plenty,” and “God is perfection.”In fact, the name means “beautiful” in several languages too.
In Hebrew, Isabel means “consecrated/devoted to God. The Spanish name Isabel was first used as a variation of the English Elisabeth by simply changing the last ‘th’ sound in Elisabeth to ‘l.’ Replacing the ‘th’ with ‘l’ lends aesthetic satisfaction and a more feminine appeal to the name.
The name Isabel was first recorded in Paris in the late 11th century. It then spread throughout France, Portugal, and Spain over the 12th and 13th centuries. Very soon, the royal family adopted this name. Isabel I (1451-1504), Queen of Castile and Léon, was the wife of King Aragon of Spain. Elisheba means “God is my oath” and she appears in Exodus as Aaron’s wife (1). Elizabeth is the mother of John the Baptist and appeared in the Bible (2). She was a prophet and prophesied that her son, John, would baptize the Lord.
The name Isabel appeared in Shakespeare’s play, King Henry V, where Queen Isabel was the wife of the eponymous emperor. Over the years, the name Isabel has traveled over a large part of the world and has morphed according to region. Isabelle and Isabella are the most common variations of Isabel. Another popular variation of Isabel is Bella or Belle, which means “pretty” or “beautiful.”
Isabel was the name of many princesses and queens and has marked its presence in popular culture as well. Isabel Archer was the name of the central character in the famous novel The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James. A movie was also made based on this novel. Enid Blyton’s famous St. Clare’s series features a pair of twins named Patricia and Isabel O’Sullivan.
How To Pronounce Isabel?
Famous People With The Name Isabel
- Isabel PerónFirst woman President of Argentina
- Isabel MayAmerican actress who appeared in the Netflix series Alexa and Katie as Katie Cooper, as Veronica Duncan in the Young Sheldon series, and as Zoe Hull in the film Run Hide Fight
- Isabel ToledoCuban-American fashion designer
- Isabel AllendeChilean author of famous books such as The House of the Spirits, City of the Beasts, and A Long Petal of the Sea, winner of multiple literary awards, and the niece of Salvador Allende (former President of Chile)
- Isabel SanfordAmerican stage, film, and TV actress
Isabel On The Popularity Chart
Isabel has been a popular name for quite some time, though, as with other names, it has seen its fair share of ups and downs. Let’s see how Isabel’s popularity has spread over the years.
Popularity Over Time
While Isabel was a popular name as a substitute for Elisabeth and was used extensively in the 19th century, the usage of the name eventually declined. In the 20th century, it was at its lowest in 1984 with only 419 babies per million being named Isabel. However, after the turn of the millennium, the name saw a dramatic rise in popularity. In 2006, it reached a peak of popularity after which it steadily declined. Again, after 2020, the popularity of Isabel is rising.
Source: Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
The name Isabel saw quite some fluctuation in the 20th century. In 1984, the name reached the rank of 483. But it slowly recovered after 1990. In 2003, it had a rank of 83 and in 2006, it achieved a rank of 87. This name is still in the running though it has had quite a few changes in popularity even after 2010.
Source: Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound As Isabel
If you love the name Isabel and are looking for other names that sound similar, here are some names you can consider.
Names With Same Meaning As Isabel
Perhaps you are looking for a name for a sibling of Isabel. Or you like the meaning of Isabel but want a trendier name. Either way, this list may help you.
Name Numerology For Isabel
