Isobel
Girl name · #2303 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Isobel? In official American birth records, Isobel has been tracked continuously since 1894, giving it 131 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 79 baby girls were named Isobel, placing it at #2303 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #2088, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 22,785 girls born in 2025 was named Isobel.
The 131-year story
Isobel first appears in the Social Security records in 1894, when 5 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2016, when 129 girls were named Isobel — good for #1660 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 Isobel per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Isobel against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Isobel in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Isobel is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Isobel will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Isobel is most common
State-level data for Isobel is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Isobel
Statistically, parents drawn to Isobel tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Izabel, Annabel, Israel, Mirabel, and Izel.
IzabelAnnabelIsraelMirabelIzelAseelIxchelAvigail
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Isobel | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 79 | #2298 |
| 2024 | 79 | #2327 |
| 2023 | 95 | #2050 |
| 2022 | 84 | #2228 |
| 2021 | 92 | #2071 |
| 2020 | 94 | #1991 |
| 2019 | 91 | #2070 |
| 2018 | 89 | #2130 |
| 2017 | 112 | #1828 |
| 2016 | 129 | #1660 |
| 2015 | 93 | #2088 |
| 2014 | 98 | #2010 |
| 2013 | 100 | #1968 |
| 2012 | 85 | #2205 |
| 2011 | 82 | #2274 |
| 2010 | 102 | #1959 |
| 2009 | 95 | #2119 |
| 2008 | 81 | #2380 |
| 2007 | 110 | #1886 |
| 2006 | 78 | #2396 |
| 2005 | 52 | #3052 |
| 2004 | 50 | #3071 |
| 2003 | 67 | #2439 |
| 2002 | 69 | #2331 |
| 2001 | 57 | #2635 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Isobel?
In official American birth records, the name Isobel first appeared in 1894 (over 131 years ago), when 5 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Isobel a popular girl name?
Isobel ranked #2303 among girls in 2025 with 79 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2088.
When was the name Isobel most popular?
Isobel peaked in 2016, when 129 American girls received the name (ranked #1660 that year). Since 2016 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Isobel?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 22,785 newborn American girls was named Isobel. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.