Isabel

Isabelle also found as meaning "Consecrated to God".

Isabel comes mainly from the French route word "Belle" meaning beautiful.

In his book "Name This Child" (1959) the usually reliable Eric Partridge claims of Isabel/Isobel: "Originally a transformation of Elisabeth. But it has an independent origin as a Biblical name. (1 Kings, xvi, 31)"

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This had me scurrying for a Bible, where I found this:
"30 Now Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all who were before him. 31 And it came to pass, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians; and he went and served Baal and worshiped him."

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Obviouly, Partridge mistakes Jezebel for Isabel - an uncharacteristic error.

It seems likely to me that there is also some origin in this name from the Phoenician name Iyzebel, which meant "Baal is exalted" and was the probable real name of the biblical Jezebel.

Check out "Etymology" on:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isabel

My name is the variant Isabelle and I have a card with the meaning of the name on my bedroom door: =]
Isabel/Isobel/Isabelle
The Spanish form of Elizabeth meaning 'Oath of God'. She is honest, hard working and down to earth. With her high moral code and intuitive nature, she is both respected and revered. An employer's dream.

I was always intrigued how Elisabeth turned into Isabel in Spanish. I found the answer in a medieval work: Elisabeth was written Elisabel back then and hence the short form Isabel. BTW, in ancient times it was spelled Ysabel, which I find beautiful.

Here in Israel the names Isabel and Jezebel are pronounced fairly identically and are considered to be one name. (ee-za-vel) Their linguistic origin is identical as is the lexical break down eeza-bel, yeeza-bel - both with the potential original form of Olizabel or Elizabel, bel being either a babylonian god (the source of the name 'el' as the hebrew word for god, in names like Michael), and also meaning 'lord' (hence, the lord god) yeza/eesa could mean follower or assistance, but it's unlikely.
Since biblical names were fashionable in the early medieval era (even the 'bad' ones) it is very likely this is the Spanish pronunciation of Jezebel. Not a bad a association, there are a few Jezebel's in the bible, one of them a very strong, smart queen, it just happened that the ancient fathers thought any strong, clever independant woman was 'bad'. Thank god times have changed.