| Isabella | Mary | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Pledged to God | Of debated origin |
| Origin | Hebrew | Hebrew |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | iz-uh-BEL-uh | MAIR-ee |
| Syllables | 4 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 2010 (22,936) | 1921 (73,984) |
| In 2025 | 10,666 | 2,230 |
| Trend | Declining | Declining |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Isabella | Mary |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 67,643 | 12,985 |
| 2010s | 170,605 | 25,693 |
| 2000s | 149,571 | 46,337 |
| 1990s | 18,762 | 75,723 |
| 1980s | 567 | 95,862 |
| 1970s | 296 | 126,254 |
| 1960s | 429 | 355,240 |
| 1950s | 590 | 625,606 |
| 1940s | 774 | 640,080 |
| 1930s | 1,079 | 573,000 |
| 1920s | 2,095 | 701,755 |
| 1910s | 2,046 | 478,636 |
| 1900s | 1,038 | 161,504 |
| 1890s | 903 | 131,138 |
| 1880s | 603 | 91,668 |
Isabella is a Latinate form of Elizabeth, from the Hebrew Elisheva, “God is my oath” — one pledged or devoted to God.
Mary descends through Greek Maria from the Hebrew Miriam. Its original meaning is debated — proposals include “sea of bitterness,” “beloved,” and “wished-for child.” Borne by Mary the mother of Jesus, it became one of the most enduring names in the Western world.
Isabella is more popular than Mary today: about 10,666 US babies were given the name Isabella in 2025, compared with 2,230 named Mary.
Isabella means Pledged to God (Hebrew origin), while Mary means Of debated origin (Hebrew origin).
In US records, Isabella first appears in 1880 and Mary in 1880, so Isabella has the longer recorded history.