girls' name · peaked 2016

Isobel

A female given name from Hebrew, variant of Isabel.

Every Isobel since 1894 — 3,802 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex — comparable across eras
0.030.050.080.118801900192019401960198020002020Peak 2016Girls
Rank 2025
#2,307
among girls
Babies in 2025
79
named Isobel
Peak year
2016
129 babies
All-time total
3,802
since 1894

The story of Isobel

Isobel is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #2,307 in 2025 with 79 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.

Since 1894, 3,802 American babies have been named Isobel. Its peak came in 2016, when 129 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2010s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Isobel stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

Isobel year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Girls Girls rank
2025 79 #2,307
2024 79 #2,336
2023 95 #2,055
2022 84 #2,233
2021 92 #2,077
2020 94 #1,996
2019 91 #2,079
2018 89 #2,137
2017 112 #1,836
2016 129 #1,664
2015 93 #2,098
2014 98 #2,016
2013 100 #1,971
2012 85 #2,215
2011 82 #2,283
2010 102 #1,965
2009 95 #2,126
2008 81 #2,386
2007 110 #1,888
2006 78 #2,408
2005 52 #3,067
2004 50 #3,092
2003 67 #2,449
2002 69 #2,338
2001 57 #2,646
2000 56 #2,645
1995 27 #3,920
1990 10 #8,104
1985
1980
1975
1970 7 #6,596
1965 7 #5,487
1960
1955
1950 5 #5,612
1945 6 #4,243
1940 12 #2,482
1935 18 #1,874
1930 33 #1,333
1925 49 #1,096
1920 35 #1,329
1915 38 #1,107
1910 17 #1,090
1905 17 #910
1900 7 #1,644
1895 10 #1,086
1890
1885
1880

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Isobel mean?

A female given name from Hebrew, variant of Isabel.

How popular is the name Isobel in 2025?

Isobel ranked #2,307 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 79 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Isobel?

3,802 babies have been named Isobel in the United States since 1894, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Isobel most popular?

Isobel peaked in 2016, when 129 newborns received the name.

Is Isobel a boy or girl name?

Isobel is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Isobel rising or falling?

Isobel has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Names like Isobel

Compare Isobel with similar names →