Isabelle
Girl name · #166 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Isabelle? In official American birth records, Isabelle has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 1,825 baby girls were named Isabelle, placing it at #166 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #94, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 986 girls born in 2025 was named Isabelle.
Babies named Isabelle per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Isabelle first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 80 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2007, when 4,106 girls were named Isabelle — good for #79 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Isabelle against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Isabelle in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Isabelle is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Isabelle is most common
Geography matters for names, and Isabelle is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Isabelle is most common in ND (4.8 per 1,000), NH (2.9 per 1,000), MN (2.7 per 1,000), MA (2.5 per 1,000), WI (2 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 1.4 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Isabelle is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Nicknames & related forms of Isabelle
Isabelle carries a whole family of nicknames and spellings — names that will feel like the same name in a classroom.
Counted as one name, the Isabelle family went to about 3,920 girls in 2025 — together they'd rank around #58, versus #166 for Isabelle alone.
Names like Isabelle
Statistically, parents drawn to Isabelle tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Giselle, Camille, Annabelle, Brielle, and Isabel.
GiselleCamilleAnnabelleBrielleIsabelNoelleGracieHalle
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Isabelle | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,825 | #166 |
| 2024 | 1,787 | #171 |
| 2023 | 1,793 | #159 |
| 2022 | 2,108 | #137 |
| 2021 | 2,393 | #117 |
| 2020 | 2,254 | #121 |
| 2019 | 2,506 | #117 |
| 2018 | 2,652 | #113 |
| 2017 | 3,168 | #92 |
| 2016 | 3,039 | #102 |
| 2015 | 3,225 | #94 |
| 2014 | 3,080 | #96 |
| 2013 | 2,762 | #114 |
| 2012 | 2,507 | #126 |
| 2011 | 2,669 | #114 |
| 2010 | 2,899 | #105 |
| 2009 | 3,307 | #100 |
| 2008 | 3,573 | #93 |
| 2007 | 4,106 | #79 |
| 2006 | 4,042 | #84 |
| 2005 | 3,284 | #96 |
| 2004 | 3,100 | #107 |
| 2003 | 3,113 | #110 |
| 2002 | 3,063 | #111 |
| 2001 | 2,943 | #113 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Isabelle?
In official American birth records, the name Isabelle first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 80 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Isabelle a popular girl name?
Isabelle ranked #166 among girls in 2025 with 1,825 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #94.
When was the name Isabelle most popular?
Isabelle peaked in 2007, when 4,106 American girls received the name (ranked #79 that year). Since 2007 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Isabelle?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 986 newborn American girls was named Isabelle. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.