| Isabella | Elizabeth | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Pledged to God | God is my oath |
| Origin | Hebrew | Hebrew |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | iz-uh-BEL-uh | ih-LIZ-uh-beth |
| Syllables | 4 | 4 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 2010 (22,936) | 1990 (20,750) |
| In 2025 | 10,666 | 6,760 |
| Trend | Declining | Declining |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Isabella | Elizabeth |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 67,643 | 41,893 |
| 2010s | 170,605 | 94,103 |
| 2000s | 149,571 | 133,568 |
| 1990s | 18,762 | 172,693 |
| 1980s | 567 | 198,972 |
| 1970s | 296 | 142,845 |
| 1960s | 429 | 168,920 |
| 1950s | 590 | 165,656 |
| 1940s | 774 | 116,551 |
| 1930s | 1,079 | 96,480 |
| 1920s | 2,095 | 139,672 |
| 1910s | 2,046 | 116,811 |
| 1900s | 1,038 | 41,708 |
| 1890s | 903 | 33,879 |
| 1880s | 603 | 25,006 |
Isabella is a Latinate form of Elizabeth, from the Hebrew Elisheva, “God is my oath” — one pledged or devoted to God.
Elizabeth is from the Hebrew Elisheva, “God is my oath.” It has been borne by saints and queens across a thousand years.
Isabella is more popular than Elizabeth today: about 10,666 US babies were given the name Isabella in 2025, compared with 6,760 named Elizabeth.
Isabella means Pledged to God (Hebrew origin), while Elizabeth means God is my oath (Hebrew origin).
In US records, Isabella first appears in 1880 and Elizabeth in 1880, so Isabella has the longer recorded history.