Isabelle Name Meaning (Origin, Popularity & Nicknames)

What Does Isabelle Mean?

Isabelle means “pledged to God” and “God is my oath.” It’s a form of Elizabeth, meaning “God is perfection.” Isabelle originated as Isabel in medieval Spain and means “consecrated to God.” Isabelle also means “devoted to God” and appears as Isabel, Isobel, and Isabella.

Isabelle is closely linked to the Spanish Isabel, which uses the masculine “el,” meaning “the.” It translates to El Isabeth, to more closely resemble Elizabeth. The suffix “-bel” was added when associated with “bella,” meaning “pretty” and “beautiful” in Spanish.

What Is the Origin of the Name Isabelle?

Isabelle has French origins traced back to Isabella, the medieval Spanish form of Elisabeth. It first appeared as the Hebrew Elisheba, composed of “Eli,” meaning “my God,” and “sheba,” meaning “oath.” Isabelle became popular in the 12th- and 13th centuries when the king of England married Isabella of Angoulême, Spain.

How Popular Is the Name Isabelle?

In the last few years, Isabelle has ranked 117th among girls in the U.S. as a popular female name. It peaked in 2007 when 2,137 babies per million had the name. Isabelle is not as popular as Isabella, typically in the top 10 U.S. girls’ names.

Isabelle has been common outside of the U.S. since two medieval French queens named Isabella brought it to the UK. It peaked in France in 1965 and is the preferred variation for Isabella.

How Do I Pronounce Isabelle?

Isabelle is pronounced “IH-zaa-Behl” in English. In French, it’s pronounced as “EE-zaa-Behl.”

Is Isabelle a Boy or Girl Name?

Isabelle is included among feminine names for girls. The root “isa,” meaning “salvation of God,” can be used on its own for boys, too.

Variations of Isabelle

Here are the other forms of Isabelle you can choose from for your little one.

• Isabel (Spanish)
• Isabele (Hebrew)
• Isabelita (Hebrew)
• Isobell (Hebrew)
• Isobelle (Hebrew)
• Izabella (Italian)
• Izabelle (Hebrew)
• Ysabell (French)
• Ysabella (Hebrew)
• Ysabelle (French)

Nicknames for Isabelle

Find the cutest pet names for Isabelle you may not have thought existed.

• Bea
• BeaBea
• Bee
• Bella
• Belle
• Bells
• El
• Elle
• Isa
• Iso
• Issie
• Issy
• Izzy
• Sable
• Zizzy

Similar Names to Isabelle

These girl’s names sound or appear similar to Isabelle when you need more to choose from.

• Arabella
• Bella
• Elizabeth
• Isadora
• Jezabel
• Marcella
• Mirabelle
• Sabella
• Yseult

Middle Names for Isabelle

Pair Isabelle with one of these beautiful middle names for the ultimate match.

• Amelia
• Bree
• Dionne
• Felicity
• Frances
• Hazel
• Jasmine
• Juno
• Lila
• Nora
• Penelope
• Rosamund
• Violet
• Willow
• Sadie

Sibling Names for Isabelle

These adorable sibling names for Isabelle make the best duo ever.

• Ada
• Annabelle
• Emmeline
• Everett
• Felicity
• Felix
• Flynn
• Georgia
• Hugo
• Hunter
• Ivy
• Jasper
• Julian
• Juliet
• Nathaniel
• Oscar
• Penelope
• Sebastian
• Sidney
• Sophie

Famous People Named Isabelle

Below, you’ll find a group of famous namesakes for those named Isabelle.

• Isabelle Aubret: French singer and 1962 Eurovision Song Contest winner.
• Isabelle Boulay: French-Canadian singer.
• Isabelle Carbonell: Belgian-Uruguayan-American award-winning experimental documentary filmmaker.
• Isabelle Dinoire: French woman and the first person to undergo a partial face transplant.
• Isabelle Fuhrman: American actress.
• Isabelle Haak: Swedish volleyball player.
• Isabelle Mir: French Alpine skier
• Isabelle of Luxembourg: Daughter of Henry V of Luxembourg.
• Isabelle Poulenard: French contemporary soprano.
• Isabelle Rampling: Canadian synchronized swimmer.
• Isabelle Stone: American physicist.
• Isabelle Vasseur: Member of the National Assembly of France.
• Isabelle Wéry: Belgian actress and writer.

Isabelle in Popular Culture

These instances of Isabelle can be found in the world of fictional characters and pop culture.

• Isabelle Andersson: Fictional character in the “Sune” book series.
• Isabelle (Animal Crossing): Dog character in the Nintendo game Animal Crossing: New Leaf.
• Isabelle (comics): Belgian comic book series.
• Isabelle Kruger: Fictional character in the 2005 film “The Black Box.”
• Isabelle Lightwood: Fictional character in the “Shadowhunters” TV series.
• Isabelle of Cornwall: Mother of Tristan in Arthurian legend.

Isabelle FAQs

Get answers to the most popular questions about the name Isabelle.

Is Isabelle a Bible Name?

Isabelle means “God is my oath,” which suggests it originates in the Hebrew Bible. It comes from the Hebrew Elisheba, meaning “devoted to God” or “God is my oath.” In the Gospel of Luke, Elizabeth was the mother of John the Baptist and Mary’s aunt, the mother of Jesus.

Elizabeth is known as the patron saint of pregnant women. Additionally, Isabelle’s biblical equivalent is Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal, the ruler of the Phoenician cities of Tyre and Sidon.

What Is the Difference Between Isabel and Isabelle?

When spelled Isabel, it’s used as a female name with Spanish origins. Isabelle is the French variation of Isabel (also appearing as Isobel). The Spanish Isabel dates back to the Middle Ages yet originated from the Hebrew Elisheba. Every variation of Isabel means “God is my oath” or “devoted to God.”

What Is a Common Nickname for Isabelle?

Despite unique nicknames for Isabelle, like Zella and Bellina, the two most common nicknames are Belle and Izzy. Belle means “beautiful” in French, while Izzy is a more modern variant for Isabelle. Izzy is also used as a short form for boys’ and girls’ names, like Israel, Chris, Isaac, Christine, Isidora, or Ismail.