Isabel
Girl name · #176 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Isabel? In official American birth records, Isabel has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 1,746 baby girls were named Isabel, placing it at #176 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #149, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,031 girls born in 2025 was named Isabel.
The 145-year story
Isabel first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 81 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2006, when 4,009 girls were named Isabel — good for #87 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Isabel per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Isabel against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Isabel in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Isabel is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Isabel is most common
Geography matters for names, and Isabel is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Isabel is most common in NM (2.6 per 1,000), MA (2.2 per 1,000), OR (2.1 per 1,000), NV (2.1 per 1,000), AZ (2.1 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 1.3 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Isabel is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Nicknames & related forms of Isabel
Isabel belongs to the Isabelle family — closely related nicknames and spellings of the same name.
Counted as one name, the Isabelle family went to about 3,920 girls in 2025 — together they'd rank around #58, versus #176 for Isabel alone.
Names like Isabel
Statistically, parents drawn to Isabel tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Itzel, Isabelle, Kylie, Gracie, and Kaylee.
ItzelIsabelleKylieGracieKayleeDelaneyAlanaFatima
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Isabel | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,746 | #176 |
| 2024 | 1,826 | #167 |
| 2023 | 1,753 | #164 |
| 2022 | 1,858 | #156 |
| 2021 | 1,917 | #146 |
| 2020 | 1,771 | #157 |
| 2019 | 2,059 | #134 |
| 2018 | 2,068 | #139 |
| 2017 | 2,036 | #145 |
| 2016 | 2,120 | #145 |
| 2015 | 2,177 | #149 |
| 2014 | 2,331 | #144 |
| 2013 | 2,341 | #136 |
| 2012 | 2,383 | #134 |
| 2011 | 2,413 | #128 |
| 2010 | 2,658 | #116 |
| 2009 | 2,988 | #109 |
| 2008 | 3,489 | #97 |
| 2007 | 3,864 | #87 |
| 2006 | 4,009 | #87 |
| 2005 | 3,611 | #89 |
| 2004 | 3,638 | #88 |
| 2003 | 3,853 | #83 |
| 2002 | 3,651 | #85 |
| 2001 | 3,491 | #88 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Isabel?
In official American birth records, the name Isabel first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 81 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Isabel a popular girl name?
Isabel ranked #176 among girls in 2025 with 1,746 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #149.
When was the name Isabel most popular?
Isabel peaked in 2006, when 4,009 American girls received the name (ranked #87 that year). Since 2006 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Isabel?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,031 newborn American girls was named Isabel. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.