Sanibel Island is pronounced san-a-bell by most residents and visitors. Some Island pioneers call her "san-a-bull". Often Sanibel's name is mispronounced and misspelled.
Regardless of how you spell it: Sanebel, Sanibell, Sanabel, or Sanbiel, SANIBEL ISLAND is a wonderfull place to live, work, visit, vacation, or retire.
How did Sanibel get it's name? The oldest dated map which names any place on Sanibel dates back to 1765, with a harper shown on the map as " Puerto de S. Nibel" also known as San Nibel or San Nivel. Another theory is that Sanibel got it's name from Santa Ybel or Point Ybel which refers to the area of the island where the Sanibel Lighthouse is located. Another theory is that Juan Ponce de León named the island for Queen Isabella I of Castile. It has also be told that Sanibel may have gotten it's name from José Gaspar's (Gasparilla) first mate who's lover's name was Sanibel.