Isabel

I am originally from the Philippines and this name is a actually not a popular name anymore as it was during my mother's childhood. I think it is both good and bad as for one it is not overused but on the other hand it has been surpassed by names like Liza, Lisa, Lizzy, Elizabeth or even Isabella. Funny how names rise and fall in popularity. (Shrug)

I much prefer Isabel to Isabella. Isabel appears more formal and adult, from my point of view. Isabella...not so much. Also, Isabel is not over saturated as Isabella is currently. In the Hispanic world, Isabel is considered quite timeless and harkens back to a charmingly evergreen appeal that few names can hold a candle to.

I very much prefer Isabella to Isabel. Isabella will be my daughter’s name. Isabella is a beautiful, feminine, and noble name. Isabel feels incomplete and short. It’s not bad but I would never give Isabel as a name.

This and the French form Isabelle is an ok alternative to the common, overused, and honestly, since it’s so popular kind of boring Isabella.

This is one of my top favorite names. It's pleasing to look at, and sounds so nice & flowing. Plus, it has some fun nickname options, like Bell or Isa. I've never met any Isabels, but I do know it's popular. Honestly, I don't see the negativity with popular names -- it's not like every single person in the world is named the same thing, and plus, there's some pretty good popular names out there. Just because it's popular doesn't mean it's a bad name!
I think it's a great name. :)

My sister's name is Isabel and is older than me by two years. Being in her early twenties and having this name has posed some difficulties with people spelling her name as Isabelle and not Isabel. Overall she likes it even though she sometimes thinks it is a bit common for people of our age group.

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The name Isabel looks very elegant, regal and complete. The other most recent comment...not so much. A name that carries the weight of history in the Hispanophone world.

This spelling looks incomplete. It also reminds me of "stable." It's not a very nice name anyway.

I prefer this spelling over Isabelle because I usually don't like long names.

I feel that Isabel is a lovely name that offers a mature appearance in contrast to other variations of it. Overall, a good, well rounded name with a historic pedigree to boot.

Terrible spelling terrible choice.

Isabel is common, overused & done. This is also the ugliest spelling variant.
It does look butchered, spelling wise 👎🏽.

Not a fan of this. Why would you want to name your child "is a bell"? Like naming them "is a table" or any other random object. Just weird.

It's funny because my whole life I have loved the name Isabelle and any form of it. But your comment made me laugh a bit because you are absolutely right - it does sound like that.

The popularity of Isabel makes it a no-go for me. Just so many little Isabellas, Isabelles, Isabels, and Bellas out there. IMO, the different ending isn’t enough to set her apart from Isabella S, Isabella P, etc….

This is the Spanish version of Elizabeth. It is a common name in Spanish speaking countries.

I like all forms of Isabelle and Isabel is one of them. Very pretty.

I think Isabel is so regal sounding, and feminine. Even though it's quite popular, there is still a touch of exotic in there too. Love the name!

It sounds more mature than Isabella and doesn't look as 'princess-y' as Isabelle. Good name.

Isabel is a sweet, regal, and elegant name. Very beautiful. I like Isabelle as well. I definitely prefer it to Isabella. Familiar, but not horribly overused. Very good name Isabel is.

Hi, my name is Isabel.

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I used to dislike my name a lot when I was younger. I always thought it sounded too harsh and I preferred how my family pronounced it in Spanish. But I have been able to appreciate my name more since then… It is short, floaty in a way I can’t explain. I would get such a sour taste in my mouth when I heard people scoff my name in school when they teased me, but I have learned that almost any name can sound bad if seen in certain perspectives. I quite like my name now. I do use the nickname Isa, and it has always sounded quite tiny to me. I like it. I hope everyone has a point in their lives when they begin to appreciate their name. I have never met another Isabel with my spelling. However, I’ve met a few Isabella’s. I’ve also been called Isabella and had my name spelt wrong numerous times. I feel like a lot of parents don’t want their child’s name to be spelled incorrectly by many, but it’s also nice to have a unique name. I didn’t like the abrupt ending in my name either for so long, but it feels nice now.

I love the name Isabel. Even though it's been used among royalty in Spain it still looks much nicer and less pretentious than Isabelle or Isabella. It has a softer pronunciation on the S in Spanish but still pretty in English too.

It's such a lovely name. 😍😍.

I've known several Isabels and most of them have been really pretty. I really like the name and either spelling (Isabelle or Isabel).

I think it is a pretty name that is not too frilly or over the top in my judgment of it.

Isabel is a very beautiful name, in my opinion. It sounds so soft yet undeniably strong at the same time. It rolls off the tongue with smooth perfection. This spelling is definitely my favorite. I love its length, six letters and three syllables. I also adore the beautiful meaning: “Pledged to God.”
Overall, I think Isabel is a gorgeous name.

Very pretty name, and I actually like the spelling more than Isabelle, also way better name then Isabella.

Isabel is not a very common name in the United States - at least, I've never met anyone called Isabel (with this spelling). I've met a couple girls / women Isabelle, but no Isabel (or Isobel). However, *Isabella* is a hugely popular name, which unfortunately makes Isabel sound a little tired just by association.

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Which is a shame, because I vastly prefer Isabel's elegant simplicity to the overly frilly Isabella.

Timeless, regal, and gorgeous is what comes to mind when I hear this name. It really is so pretty.

As someone with a kinda long last name I prefer the spelling Isabel so there are less letters. My favorite middle name for it is Isabel Lauren.

I think it’s a fantastic name!

I love the name Isabel and adore the nickname Isa.

No, no no. This name has a harsh tone to it, and it looks incomplete. I much prefer Isabelle, or even Isabella over this.

Nope, uh-uh. I hate it! I knew a girl named Isabel who was SPOILED and BOSSY. I MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH prefer Isobel, Isabelle, Isabella, Isobelle, Isobella etc. I would NOT recommend this name for a baby girl. This is not cute, doesn't age well at all, and I just...despise it! Nope, please don't name a child Isabel, Please don't name a poor, precious, innocent, cute child this!

In my opinion, this is the best form of the Isabel variants. I like it a lot.

The most gorgeous name I've heard. I've loved it since I was a little girl. Perfection.

Stunning.

Lovely, lovely name. I always imagine someone with this name being friendly, interesting and quite outgoing. It's pretty without being seen as overly frilly or feminine, so it could suit anyone, especially with so many potential nicknames. While it's easily recognisable, here in northern England I've only ever met one Isabel, and no one with other variations of the name.

Beautiful.

What a beautiful and sweet name! I was almost given the name Isabel.

It's a nice name, better than Isabella. It's less popular, and it doesn't sound or look as immature and frilly as Isabella does. It's nicer and more mature overall.

I love Isabel, and Isadora. They're such beautiful, strong names. I really dislike Isabella and Isabelle, though. Isabel and Isadora have this sort of ethnic quality the other variants don't. I love the nickname Isa, which is probably my favorite, but Izzy is also really nice. Belle and Bella are eh. To me, Isabel is very Spanish, which is probably why I like it so much.

Interesting how it came from Elizabeth! Sounds great!

I like my name although people at my school say it differently because we have like three Isabels at my school.

I can't decide which spelling I like more - Isabel, Isabella, or Isabelle, or maybe something else? :D I like them all and each one seems to have different advantages and a bit of a different feel. While Isabella seems very elegant and sophisticated, Isabel is too, but to me it seems more warm and dynamic, a bit stronger and less frilly, although I can't say that the name Isabella is too frilly for me, I like its girliness. I'd say that Isabel is a bit more energetic overall.

Beautiful, immortal. Who doesn't know Isabel of Castille?

If my wife is named Isabel, would it be a stretch to name our daughter Elizabeth? I am conflicted.

To anonymous user, no I don't think using Elizabeth if your wife's name is Isabel is too much. Most people don't even realize it's a translation of the same name. I honestly think that's a beautiful homage to your wife and shouldn't be that big of a deal. Both are fine names to have and most people really don't critique names on that level to even create that connection. This may have come a little late but if you want to name your daughter Elizabeth than it shouldn't be a problem. I personally thought it would be a nice mother and daughter name.

My name is Isabel. I love my name as it is reflective of my Hispanic culture/background. I also like the accent in Spanish rather than in English. When I was in school NO ONE had my name and that was a good thing. I was born and raised in Arkansas in 1990. Everyone was named Ashley, Kristen, Jessica etc.. there was always at least two in the classroom. The only issue I have is people constantly wanting to name their daughter Isabel as soon as they hear my name. My mom's co-workers heard my name when she would talk about me, and several co-workers through3out the years admit to naming their daughters after me once they heard the name. Also, when I was in school many pregnant teachers would come up to me and say, "I'm having a girl, I want to name my daughter Isabel because I think your name is so pretty." As well as male teachers who would say their wives were pregnant and want to name their daughter Isabel after they had seen my name. I found it kind of irritating to be told that a lot. Now, as an adult I am not told that as much as it might be a bit awkward maybe? It seems my name is not original anymore as it has been OVERUSED now (there are many variants being used now). It is kind of a petty thing to think, but nonetheless I still like my name. I have not met an Isabel among my peers, yet. *Also, side note, "Isabel" is the spelling so it is pronounced properly in Spanish. "IsabeLLE" is Americanized because when you say the the two "L's" they don't sound like a "Y" in English like it would in Spanish. In English they stay sounding like "L's". If you took Spanish, or know Spanish, this is obvious.

Isabel is a sweet and elegant name, I like this spelling better than “Isabelle” or “Isabella” because first, Isabel is simple and original, second, Isabel looks somewhat more “balanced” than the two more popular spellings. It was also the name of a category 5 hurricane that hit North Carolina in 2003. Although tragic, the storm was a beautiful annular hurricane.

Isabel... is a wonderful name! I think so because well,.. my name is Isabel!

Such a gorgeous name. My favourite spelling too!

Not as common as Isabella, but still a boring name to me. I prefer the similar sounding Isidora, which is more original yet still has the same cute nickname Izzy.

What a sweet & gorgeous name! :D.

My middle name is Isabel. I was born in the 1960s and named after my grandmother. At first, I didn't like it because I didn't know anyone with the name when I was in school. At the time, my grandmother said to just wait, one day it would become popular again. Little by little, beginning in the 1970s, I noticed French film actresses with the name like Isabelle Adjani & Isabelle Huppert. Years later, the popular singer Shakira was noted for having the middle named Isabel (with my spelling). Now it seems so many people have children named Isabella (often nicknamed Bella). I love having the middle name Isabel, because my grandmother who has since passed away lives on in my name & it sounds like a French movie star.

For the longest time I couldn't stand the name Isabella. There are waaaaaay more Isabellas where I live than Isabels. Isabel was okay, but I wasn't particularly fond of it. Now that I'm older I can appreciate this name a lot more. I prefer it much more Isabel (spelled this way) as opposed to Isabella/Isabelle. A few years back I found out that my Mexican-born great-great grandmother's name was Isabel so I have to admit I have a soft spot for this name now. I'd never use it as a first name but I would consider it as a middle name, bring it back to life so to speak in our family tree.

This is my name, and I personally love it. It wasn't very popular when I was born, and a lot of people assumed I was Hispanic because of my name, even though I had a *very* Italian surname. I've gotten plenty of compliments on it over the years, and I always loved being the only Isabel in a sea of jennifers and jessicas. I have yet to meet an Isabel my age. I agree with the other comment saying everyone misspells it, I can't tell you how often I've had to correct people who spelled it 'Isabelle', not to mention how many times I was called Isabella throughout school and by receptionists at the doctor, dentist, etc. It's not a big deal to me though, I've learned to respond to Isabella over the years. Although I'm not quite sure how they don't realize there's only one l and no a... Anyways, it's all worth it to bear such an elegant and beautiful name. I personally don't like the spelling Isabelle, it just looks too frilly and over the top to me, whereas Isabel can suit a wide range of personalities, from sporty to girly. If you absolutely love Isabella but want something a little less trendy, I would highly recommend Isabel. It's popularity has gone down in recent years, so your daughter will probably be the only Isabel in her class. It's a fantastic choice for a little girl that won't sound out of place when she's an adult. Plus, it sounds great with a lot of middle names!

I like this name, regardless of how popular it is. Very classy and feminine. It's strange how I don't like Isabella or even Isabelle spelt like that but I like Isabel and Isobel.

This may be my favorite name. I love that it doesn't have the frill of the le at the end (Isabelle), but it's still feminine and classy. Isabel is such a beautiful name; I'd like to name a little girl Isabel Irene.

I love this name. I think it's pretty enough without a nickname like izzy; that just takes away the beauty of the name. I personally prefer Isabel to Isabelle, and especially the disgustingly trendy Isabella. You really can't go wrong with a name like this! :)

For portuguese and Spanish speakers this name is beautiful. Such a classic name! It´s one of my favorite names for a girl. The nicknames in portugese for Isabel are Isa, Bel or Bebel.

I have a very strong dislike of this name. The name is pathetic and old-fashioned and you have this name then I feel rather sorry for you. It is the worst name. Ever.

As an Isabel in America I have been continuously frustrated by people trying to spell my name "Isabelle." People have also spelled my name as Isebal, Isabele, Izabelle, Izabel, and many other ways that I can't remember right now. There are too many different spellings of "Isabel" and for some reason everyone goes for anything but "Isabel." I also have a difficult last name so it gets old spelling my name out letter by letter for everything. People also continuously call me Elizabeth for some reason, I know the names are related but they don't even sound that much alike.
I prefer the Spanish pronunciation, mostly because it clears up some of the spelling issues and it sounds better to me (and it's the way my mom says it, so I am biased).
Despite the spelling issues I love my name, and it works for me.

I love the name Isabel! It seems a lot tougher than Isabelle or Isabella, since I think the the suffix 'le' or 'la' on already pretty names makes them sound too girly. This is one of my favorite names.

I love this name, but it's probably sooooooooo overused by now :( Oh well, it's still great.

If you are considering giving this name to your daughter, here are some things you should know:
1) People will misspell it. Everyone wants to add an -le to the end. When you or your daughter try to correct them, many people will complain that the -le spelling looks nicer. 2) People will call her Isabella. And Elizabeth. And maybe Annabel. 3) It is currently very common, along with its other spelling Isabelle. There are six other girls with this name who attend my school, and even though they are all Isabelles, the two names sound the same. 4) The meaning of this name really isn't too interesting.
My name is not a bad name, though it has never really suited me. I have always pictured Isabels/Isabelles as being tall, slender, and dark-haired, none of which describe me in the slightest. At least this is the less feminine-looking version, for those parents who shy away from frilly names.

Tacky and overused.
I hate this name, Isabel (even though it is the original spelling) looks like a spelling mistake.

I have to disagree with Alora's comment. I can't understand how anyone could ever call Isabel "tacky". It is a beautiful, long-established, classic and sophisticated name. And it has a lot of history, if you'd care to read up about how "Elisheva" changed to "Isabel". Isabel is definitely not a misspelling, nor does it look like one. (Isn't Isabel the most common spelling in English, anyway? I've met far more Isabels than I have Isabelles or Isobels.) I get annoyed when English-speakers try to look "fancy" and pick the French form of a name, then ignore the French spelling and pronounce it as if it were English (usually because they can't speak French). Vivienne is not pronounced like Vivian, Adrienne is not pronounced like Adrian, Aimée is not pronounced like Amy, and Isabelle is not pronounced like Isabel!
I personally have always loved the name Isabel, and though I prefer the Spanish pronunciation, it sounds gorgeous in English as well. And I think the Spanish nicknames Chabela and Chabelita are adorable. What's not to love about Isabel?

Horrible way to spell Isabelle. It is a disgrace to the name and the French word for beautiful "Belle" never should be spelled Bel! Horrible way to spell it. Beautiful name is Isabelle. Not Isabel. Still a beautiful name.

To the above comment saying that 'this is a terrible way to spell Isabelle' -- Do you know that Isabel is the original version?

Sorry, I misunderstood that this was the original spelling. Still I stand for my comment that Isabelle just looks nice and is spelled better.

I like it, pretty, it's a bit common but I think ISABEL is the best spelling.

I LOVE this name. What's weird is it grew on me so quickly. One day, I only thought it was okay, the next I loved it. I just like the way all the syllables go together.

It's my name and I love it! Sadly has become too common recently.

This name is soo beautiful pronounced the French or Spanish ways, but Izzzzzabel just makes me cringe!

I'd never cared much for Isabel til now. I think I'd known too many stuck-up Isabel(le)s. Now, though, I absolutely love it; the simple, pretty, tinkling sound, the pared down 'Isabel' spelling. I would love to name a daughter of mine Isabel; I just wish it hadn't become a name for spoilt girls! Ysabel is very striking and feminine, too.

This is my Spanish name (ees-a-bel) in school and I love it. I think it's really cute, with either pronunciation.

This name is so blah and boring. As boring as its English counterpart Elizabeth - too many Isabels and Elizabeths out there.

I love this name, it's one of my favourites, but you would be inflicted with a lifetime of "Is a bell necessary on a bicycle?"

I love the name Isabel, it's so pretty. I love the nickname Belle but I don't like Is. It's really not elegant. I like this spelling better than Isabelle. I really like Isabel June.

I have a crush on "Isabeau." It's a legitimate old name. What holds me back is that beau is masculine and belle is feminine for beautiful. But really I more so think it's either She "Is-a-bell" or She "Is-a-bow" sigh. I don't think I'll use it if everyone thinks I'm nuts. Maybe for a middle name. It's just that in husband's family, they call everyone by their middle names, even more so then their first. They are from the South, and though a little out of hand, that's the way is it!

I really dislike this name and cannot for the life of me understand why it is so popular. However, this may be affected by the fact that the only Isabel I know is a brat.

Isabel is a beautiful name, I prefer the spelling Isabelle though, it looks more finished.

I like this name. I like Isabella better!

I like this name. I love the name Elizabeth for Elizabeth Swann (my favourite film) and Elizabeth Bennet, both played by Keira Knightley. My mother's name is Maria Isabel and it's beautiful. She likes her name too. I think everybody likes it.

I think Isabel is the most beautiful name, even though it is quite popular, it will always be a classic. Lovley meaning 'Devoted to God' also.

This has become WAY too common recently. Every second baby born in 2004 was called this. It's the new Olivia in that respect.