| Isabela | Esperanza | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | God is my oath | hope |
| Origin | spanish | spanish |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | ee-sah-BEH-lah | es-peh-RAHN-sah |
| Syllables | 4 | 4 |
| First appeared | 0 | 1903 |
| Peak year | 2004 (695) | 2000 (499) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 188 |
| Trend | Declining | Steady |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Isabela | Esperanza |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 2,496 | 1,454 |
| 2010s | 3,961 | 2,690 |
| 2000s | 5,336 | 3,814 |
| 1990s | 846 | 2,359 |
| 1980s | 59 | 1,302 |
| 1970s | 0 | 1,317 |
| 1960s | 0 | 1,232 |
| 1950s | 0 | 1,500 |
| 1940s | 0 | 1,602 |
| 1930s | 0 | 1,385 |
| 1920s | 0 | 1,695 |
| 1910s | 0 | 454 |
| 1900s | 0 | 45 |
A Spanish form of Isabel, which arose in medieval Iberia and Provence as a variant of Elizabeth, from the Hebrew Elisheva 'my God is an oath' (or 'God is abundance'). It became a royal name in Spain, Portugal and England.
The Spanish word for 'hope', from the Latin sperantia (from sperare 'to hope'). One of the three theological virtues and a Marian title, Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza (Our Lady of Hope).
Esperanza is more popular than Isabela today: about 188 US babies were given the name Esperanza in 2025, compared with 0 named Isabela.
Isabela means God is my oath (spanish origin), while Esperanza means hope (spanish origin).
In US records, Isabela first appears in 0 and Esperanza in 1903, so Isabela has the longer recorded history.