Alternatives to Isabella

A playful and vintage nickname for Elizabeth, Isabelle, or Isabella, if you're hoping to avoid Izzy, Lizzy, Belle, or Beth.

Isela is a name used mostly by Mexican and Spanish-speaking parents, perhaps in honor of actress Isela Vega. It's believed to come from the Nahuatl word icel, meaning unique or only.

Iselle was a hurricane during the 2014 season, Iselle is thought to be drawn from the Nahuatl word icel, meaning unique or only. Iselle could fit right in with recent favorites like Isabelle and Giselle.

The Isidora spelling, though equally legitimate, is about 90 percent less common than Isadora.

Despite appearances, Ismenia does not seem to be related to Greek Ismene ("knowledge"). Instead, one possible derivation is from Celtic elements meaning "excellent" and "treasure".

The origins of this rare name are shrouded in mystery. Ismeria is an obscure figure in European Christian legend, sometimes purported to be the great-aunt of Jesus Christ, who is connected to the devotion of the Black Madonna.

The Scottish spelling of Isabel has a definite character of her own, the 'o' giving her an extra infusion of strength but also an element of confusion. How do you pronounce that? Answer: Exactly like Isabel or Isabelle.

Now that Tristan has been rediscovered, maybe it's time for his fabled lover in the Arthurian romances and Wagnerian opera, a beautiful Irish princess, to be brought back into the light as well.

This contracted form of Isadora makes for a more concise name that might catch the attention of modern parents.

Issa might make more sense if you're using it as a nickname for any one of the various names ending in -issa, but this spelling is also an Arabic and Hebrew boy name. The Isa spelling is almost exclusively feminine.