Isobel
Meaning of Isobel
The name Isobel is a charming and elegant choice for a baby girl, with deep roots in English, Scottish, and Irish traditions. Pronounced i-SO-bel (/aɪsˈbɛl/), it is a variant of the name Isabel, which itself is derived from Elizabeth, meaning "pledged to God" in Hebrew. Isobel exudes an old-world charm while maintaining a timeless appeal. Though not as commonly used as its variations Isabelle or Isabel, Isobel has steadily appeared in the United States' naming charts over the decades. It reached its peak popularity in the early 20th century and has seen fluctuating but modest use since then. With historical associations and literary ties—such as being featured in works by poets like Robert Burns—Isobel carries a sense of cultural richness and poetic elegance that makes it a beautiful choice for parents seeking a classic yet distinctive name for their daughter.
Pronunciation
English,Scottish,Irish
- Pronunced as i-SO-bel (/aɪsˈbɛl/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
States Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Isobel
| Isobel Wylie Hutchison was a Scottish Arctic traveler, filmmaker, and botanist known for her published works, lectures, and contributions to National Geographic. |
| Isobel Andrews, a Scottish-born New Zealand playwright, novelist, and poet, wrote over sixty plays and won the British Drama League's annual playwrighting competition four times. |
| Isobel Gunn, also known as John Fubbister or Mary Fubbister, was a Scottish laborer who disguised herself as a man to work for the Hudson's Bay Company, becoming the first European woman to travel to Rupert's Land in Western Canada. |
| Isobel Noeline Waller-Bridge is a renowned British composer recognized for her diverse musical contributions to film, television, theatre, electronic music, and contemporary classical music. |
| Isobel Victoria Steele is an English actress and singer-songwriter, recognized for her portrayal of Liv Flaherty in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale and her award-winning performances. |
| Lady Isobel Barnett, a Scottish radio and television personality, gained fame in the 1950s and 1960s. |
| Isobel Ida Bennett AO was a prominent Australian marine biologist known for her work on the intertidal zone and her contributions to marine biology literature. |
| Isobel Osbourne - Isobel "Belle" Osbourne Strong Field was a writer and the daughter of Fanny Stevenson, making her the stepdaughter of Robert Louis Stevenson. |
| Isobel Marshall, a South Australian social entrepreneur and medical student, was honored as the Young Australian of the Year for 2021. |
| Isobel Foster Smith was a Canadian-born British archaeologist known for her significant work at Avebury and its surroundings. |
| Isobel Armstrong is a British academic, professor emerita of English at Birkbeck, University of London, a senior research fellow of the Institute of English Studies at the University of London, and a fellow of the British Academy, as well as a published poet and the younger sister of writer Diana Wynne Jones. |
| Isobel Murray is a Scottish literary scholar and Emeritus Professor at the University of Aberdeen, known for editing the work of Oscar Wilde and Naomi Mitchison, conducting interviews with Scottish writers, and writing a biography of Jessie Kesson. |
| Isobel Goodwin is an English footballer known for playing as a forward for Women's Championship club Sheffield United. |
| Isobel Warren is a Canadian author and journalist known for her work in newspapers, magazines, radio, and television, as well as for founding "Hands Magazine," Canada's only national craft publication. |
| Isobel Graham Finlayson, an English-born diarist and artist, left behind a valuable diary documenting her travels associated with the North American fur trade. |
