Isobel
Girl name · Gaelic · Italian · Scottish · Spanish
Meaningpledged to God · Scottish form of Isabel
- US rank
- #2,298
- Syllables
- 3
- Peak
- #817 in 1916
79 babies were named Isobel in the US in 2025. It has dropped 307 places in five years.
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US births per million girls, 1894–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Isobel you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 20,325 baby girls born in the US in 2025 was named Isobel, 79 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Isobel would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryIsobel first shows up in US birth records in 1894, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 131 years since.
- Best yearIts best year was 1916, when it reached #817.
- TrendIsobel has slipped 307 places over the last five years and now sits at #2,298. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- MeaningIsobel is a Scottish form of Isabel, which means “pledged to God”. Our records link it to Gaelic, Italian and Scottish roots.
About the name Isobel
Isobel is a girl name of Gaelic, Italian and Scottish origin meaning “pledged to God”. It has 6 letters and 3 syllables, starting with I and ending in “-bel”. US birth records list Isobel for girls from 1894 to 2025, in 103 of those 132 years. Its best year was 1916, when it ranked #817 among girl names. In 2025 it ranked #2,298, with 79 babies.
Origin:Gaelic namesItalian namesScottish namesSpanish names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1890s | 29 | 33,975 girls |
| 1900s | 44 | 22,894 girls |
| 1910s | 46 | 21,664 girls |
| 1920s | 35 | 28,369 girls |
| 1930s | 18 | 55,928 girls |
| 1940s | 5.8 | 173,010 girls |
| 1950s | 2.7 | 375,940 girls |
| 1960s | 0.7 | 1,538,462 girls |
| 1970s | 0.8 | 1,234,568 girls |
| 1980s | 0.4 | 2,564,103 girls |
| 1990s | 15 | 65,789 girls |
| 2000s | 39 | 25,934 girls |
| 2010s | 56 | 17,841 girls |
| 2020s | 54 | 18,599 girls |
Other spellings of Isobel
More Gaelic girl names
- Girl name: Nora · honor
- Girl name: Isla · from Islay
- Girl name: Maeve · she who intoxicates
- Girl name: Alana · possibly little rock
- Unisex name: Lennon · descendant of Leannán
- Unisex name: Murphy · sea warrior
- Girl name: Fiona · white, fair
- Girl name: Mara · bitter
Questions about the name Isobel
What does the name Isobel mean?
Isobel means “pledged to God” in Scottish, as a form of Isabel.
What is the origin of the name Isobel?
Isobel has Gaelic, Italian, Scottish, Spanish roots in our records. Other Gaelic names include Nora, Isla, Maeve.
Is Isobel a boy or girl name?
Isobel is a girl name.
How popular is the name Isobel?
Isobel ranked #2,298 for US girls in 2025, given to 79 babies. Its best year was 1916 (#817).