Isabella was moderately popular during the first half of the 20th century until its ranking plummeted in the 1940s. It was a fairly rare until 1990 when it began to be used more widely again. In 1998, it broke into the top 100 names in the U.S. In 2004, it made the top 10, and was the runner-up from 2007 to 2008 before claiming the number one spot in 2009. Isabella’s victorious transition to the top position coincided with the release of the movie “Twilight,” which featured main character Bella Swan. (Coincidence? Probably not!) The name reigned supreme until 2011, when it took second place to Sophia. Isabella remained in the top 5 until 2019. As of 2020, the Social Security Administration has Isabella as the 7th most popular name.

Name Variations

Here are some variations of the name Isabella:

Elizabeth (Hebrew) Elisheba (Hebrew) Sabella (Latin) Isabel (Spanish) Isabele (Hebrew) Isabelita (Hebrew) Isabelle (French) Isobell (Hebrew) Izabella (Italian) Isobelle (Hebrew) Izabelle (Hebrew) Ysabell (French) Ysabella (Hebrew) Ysabelle (French) Ysbella (French) Ysabel (French)

Similar Names

Other girl names ending in A:

Sophia Olivia Mia Ava Gabriella Isadora Emma Anastasia Anna Ella Alexandra Amelia Aurora Maria Stella Alexa Julia Angelina

Other Italian names for girls:

GiannaViviannaAlessiaBeatriceCarmellaAidaSienaNicole

Other Spanish names for girls:

SavannahIslaJadeLilianaLolaCarmenItzelBelen

Common Nicknames

Bella: Think vibrant, strong, and energetic! Bella is full of personality, always laughing, and never afraid to speak their mind. The nickname was made massively popular by the character Bella Swan in the “Twilight “movie series.Izzy: This fun nickname suggests a free-spirited personality. They’re unconventional, adventurous, and embraces change. Izzy is confident and sensible, and can usually be found enjoying the outdoors.Isa: Dependable and determined, Isa can do anything they sets their mind to. They’re always willing to help others and genuinely aspires to make a difference in the world.

Suggested Sibling Names

Here are some popular options for siblings of Isabella:

Annette Brielle Elisha Enzo Evelina Gabrielle Ivan Lillian Noah Scarlett Sebastian Walter

Famous People Named Isabella

While Isabella isn’t the most common celebrity name, there are a few worth noting:

Famous Isabellas

Isabella Rossellini, Italian actress, filmmaker, philanthropist, model, and authorIsabella I of Castile, Spanish Queen of Castile from 1474 until her death in 1504Isabella of Portugal, Holy Roman Empress who governed as Regent of Spain

Famous Bellas

Bella Thorne, American actress and model, known for her role as Ruthy Spivey in the TV drama, “My Own Worst Enemy"Bella Hadid, American model, and sister of the equally famous Gigi Hadid

Top 1,000 Baby Girl Names in the U.S. 100 Spanish Baby Names 100 Italian Baby Names