Isabela is a Latinate form of Isabel, the medieval Occitan form of Elizabeth. The name is used in Portuguese, Romanian, and Spanish, where it carries the same cascading heritage: from the Hebrew Elisheva meaning “God is my oath” through Greek and Latin, then Occitan, and finally Iberian and Eastern European variants. Etymology and Historical Use The chain begins with the Hebrew name Elisheva (אֱלִישֶׁבַע), which is borne by Aaron’s wife in the Old Testament (Exodus 6:23). It passed into Greek as Elisabeth and Latin as Elisabetha. In early medieval Occitan, the name took the form Isabel, first appearing in the Provençal lyric poetry of troubadours. From Occitan, it spread westward into Spain, Portugal, and France, becoming especially popular in the royal houses of the 12th and 13th centuries. The name’s popularity in England surged after the marriage of Isabella of Angoulême to King John in 1200 and later with Isabella of France, wife of Edward II. Royal and Colonial Presence Isabela (the -a ending aligning it with many Romance feminine names) shares the legacy of its parent name Isabel. Two famous Spanish queens bore the name: Isabel I of Castile (who sponsored Columbus’s voyages) and Isabel II, who reigned in the 19th century. In the Philippines, the name Isabela is also the source of several place names, such as the province of Isabela, the city of Isabela on Basilan island, and a municipality in Negros Occidental, all named in honor of Queen Isabella II of Spain, according to the Wiktionary entry. Variants and Diminutives Isabela has many cognates. Among regional variants are Spanish Ysabel, Brazilian Portuguese Izabel and Isabele, and Romanian Isabella. Common Portuguese diminutives include Isa and Belinha. In other languages, related forms extend from Armenian Zabel to Basque Elixabete and of course the Biblical Elisheba and standard English Elizabeth. Meaning: God is my oath (via Elizabeth & Isabel) Origin: Latinate creation, from Occitan Isabel Type: First name (feminine) Usage regions: Portuguese-, Romanian-, and Spanish-speaking countries