Izel

GirlNahuatl· “unique”

Meaning
unique
Origin
Nahuatl
Pronunciation
ee-ZEHL
Syllables
2
US rank 2025
#2,836
US babies 2025
60
Best rank
#1,878 (2011)
Peak year
2011

Meaning and origin of Izel

Izel is a Nahuatl name that is usually said to mean “unique”.

Izel is a name from Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs, and it is usually translated as "unique" or "one of a kind," from a word meaning alone or only. The translation is widely repeated in naming sources, so it is best taken as a close approximation. The name has become popular in Mexico and among Mexican American families as part of a revival of Indigenous names such as Xochitl and Citlali. It is pronounced ee-ZEHL. Short and distinctive, it offers a meaningful link to Mexican heritage.

Popularity over time

030609012019401960198020002020Peak 2011: 107
US girlsUS boys

Izel first appears in US Social Security records in 1994. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #1,878 in 2011, the same year it reached its highest count of 107 babies. In 2025, 60 babies were named Izel, and it ranked #2,836 nationally. That is 27% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.

Its national rank moved from #7,314 in 2000, #2,412 in 2010, and #2,836 in 2025. Of the 1,524 US girls named Izel since records began, 49% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2020s come next, with 377 babies.

Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Brilee, Josey, Kavya, Navaeh, and Giulianna.

Where it is most popular (2025)

In 2025, Izel ranked highest in Illinois, California, and Texas.

StateRank thereBabies
Illinois#13116
California#168813
Texas#211410

Gender, sound and spelling

About 81% of US babies named Izel over the last 20 years were girls, with a small share of boys.

Izel is usually pronounced ee-ZEHL, with two syllables. It has four letters, starts with I and ends in “-el”.

Middle names for Izel

A few middle names that flow with Izel: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.

Emma Girl
EH-muh
“whole, universal” · Germanic
#3
Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Grace Girl
GRAYS
“grace” · English
#38
Claire Girl
KLAIR
“clear, bright” · French
#68
Olivia Girl
oh-LIH-vee-uh
“olive” · Latin
#1
Lily Girl
LIH-lee
“lily flower” · English
#18

Sibling names for Izel

Similar names

Chanel Girl
shuh-NEL
“from the French surname Chanel” · French
#1,311
Zuriel Unisex
ZOOR-ee-ehl
“God is my rock” · Hebrew
#1,727
Adel Unisex
ah-DEHL
“just, fair” · Arabic
#4,708
Liesel Girl
LEE-zul
“pet form of Elisabeth; God is my oath” · German
#4,830
Noel Unisex
noh-EHL
“Christmas” · French
#478
Itzel Girl
eet-SEHL
“uncertain; often linked to Maya Ixchel” · Native American
#359
Raquel Girl
rah-KEHL
“ewe” · Spanish
#1,123
Jewel Girl
JOO-uhl
“jewel, precious stone” · English
#1,514
Rachael Girl
RAY-chuhl
“ewe” · Hebrew
#5,066
Xochitl Girl
SOH-cheel
“flower” · Nahuatl
#1,101
Michel Unisex
mee-SHEHL
“French form of Michael: who is like God?” · French
#4,642
Hazel Girl
HAY-zuhl
“hazel tree” · English
#21

Lists that include Izel

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Izel mean?

Izel is a Nahuatl name that is usually said to mean “unique”.

What is the origin of the name Izel?

Izel has Nahuatl roots. Izel is a name from Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs, and it is usually translated as "unique" or "one of a kind," from a word meaning alone or only.

Is Izel a popular name?

Not especially. Izel ranked #2,836 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.

Is Izel a boy or girl name?

Izel is mainly a girl's name. About 81% of US babies named Izel over the last 20 years were girls, with a small share of boys.

How do you pronounce Izel?

Izel is usually pronounced ee-ZEHL. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.

Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings