Isobel
Isobel is the Scottish form of the female given name Isabel. It originates from the medieval form of the name Elisabeth.
- Scottish
Meaning & Origin of Isobel
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Isobel is the Scottish form of the female given name Isabel. It originates from the medieval form of the name Elisabeth.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- Scottish
The Story of Isobel
The earliest SSA record of Isobel as a baby girl name dates back to 1894, when 5 babies received it. 2016 was its biggest year on record, with 129 newborns named Isobel — #1,660 in the national rankings. The 2010s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 25% of all recorded Isobels. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #2,331 among baby girl names with 79 births, gradually falling (-13%). In total, more than 4K Isobels have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1890s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Isobel
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Isobel. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
- Beileag
- Iseabail
- Ishbel
Notable people named Isobel
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- Isobel of Huntingdon (1199–1251), Scottish royalty
- Isobel Baillie (1895–1983), Scottish operatic soprano
- Isobel Barnett (1918–1980), British radio and television personality
- Isobel Buchanan (born 1954), Scottish operatic soprano
- Isobel Campbell (born 1976), Scottish singer, formerly with Belle and Sebastian
- Isobel Lilian Gloag (1865–1917), English painter
- Isobel Gowdie , Scottish woman who was tried for witchcraft in 1662
- Isobel Elsom (1893–1981), English actress
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Isobel
Phonetically similar names — useful when Isobel is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Isobel
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About the name Isobel
Isobel is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1894 and has accumulated 4K births in the dataset. Isobel's peak popularity came in 2016 when it ranked #817. Use the chart and map above to compare Isobel's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2016 →
- Names of the 2010s →
- Names starting with "I" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.