Isabel
Girl name · #176 in 2025 · Uniqueness 47/100
In 2025, 1,746 baby girls were named Isabel, placing it at #176 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #149, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,031 girls born in 2025 was named Isabel.
The 145-year story
Isabel first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 81 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2006, when 4,009 girls were named Isabel — good for #87 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Isabel per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Isabel against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Isabel in class?
Isabel scores 47 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Isabel is most common
Geography matters for names, and Isabel is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Isabels were CA (273), TX (218), NY (113), FL (101), IL (63). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Isabel
Statistically, parents drawn to Isabel tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Itzel, Isabelle, Kylie, Gracie, and Kaylee.
ItzelIsabelleKylieGracieKayleeDelaneyAlanaFatima
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Isabel | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,746 | #176 |
| 2024 | 1,826 | #167 |
| 2023 | 1,753 | #164 |
| 2022 | 1,858 | #156 |
| 2021 | 1,917 | #146 |
| 2020 | 1,771 | #157 |
| 2019 | 2,059 | #134 |
| 2018 | 2,068 | #139 |
| 2017 | 2,036 | #145 |
| 2016 | 2,120 | #145 |
| 2015 | 2,177 | #149 |
| 2014 | 2,331 | #144 |
| 2013 | 2,341 | #136 |
| 2012 | 2,383 | #134 |
| 2011 | 2,413 | #128 |
| 2010 | 2,658 | #116 |
| 2009 | 2,988 | #109 |
| 2008 | 3,489 | #97 |
| 2007 | 3,864 | #87 |
| 2006 | 4,009 | #87 |
| 2005 | 3,611 | #89 |
| 2004 | 3,638 | #88 |
| 2003 | 3,853 | #83 |
| 2002 | 3,651 | #85 |
| 2001 | 3,491 | #88 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Isabel a popular girl name?
Isabel ranked #176 among girls in 2025 with 1,746 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #149.
When was the name Isabel most popular?
Isabel peaked in 2006, when 4,009 American girls received the name (ranked #87 that year). Since 2006 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Isabel?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,031 newborn American girls was named Isabel. It scores 47/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.