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Before the arrival of the Portuguese colonizers in Brazil in 1500, the Island was inhabited by the Tupinambas Indians. Its name was then "Ciribai" that means "tranquil place".
The place was named "Ilha de São Sebastião" by Americo Vespucio, on January 20th, 1502. As usual at the time, the Italian navigator who explored the continent upon request of the King of Spain, named the region after the Saint of the day, according to the Christian calendar.
On September 3rd, 1805, the Governor of the Province of São Paulo, Antônio José da França e Horta, decreed the political-administrative independence of the county. The Island had already 3.000 inhabitants at that time. The new county was named Villa Bella da Princeza, paying homage to the princess of Beira.
On November 30th, 1838, during the Getúlio Vargas' Estado Novo, an act altered the name of the county to Formosa. Six years later, on November 30th, 1944, another act ultimately changed the name to Ilhabela.
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