Sofia vs Isabel

[ddas]

Both myself and DH love these two names but can't decide between them & as we have a long double barrel surname have chosen not to have a middle name so can't use both!

What do you like/dislike/prefer about them to help us decide. DH thinks that maybe Sofia will get called Sophie instead which we aren't so keen on but can't see why anyone would do that.

If helps background to why we chose these 2 names: want something that can be said in both Spanish & English as my family is originally Spanish (another reason we're not having a middle name as it's also not something that is normally done in Spain) and something not too long that can go with a long surname.

Feel free to to suggest others too.

[BobbysBeardOfWonder]

Well I have an Isabella I would've considered Sofia but DH's cousin's DD has the name & I felt it would be better to go with completely new name. cos I love the name too.

[BobbysBeardOfWonder]

Not much help am I

[notso]

I prefer Sofia, it's very pretty.

Not fussed on Isabel don't know why but it always reminds me of a cross old woman even though I know several cute Isabels.

[Rooble]

My DS has three of each (!) in his class (Y1) plus a Sophie. How about Gabriella? Or Elena?
None of the Sofia's get abbreviated to Sophie btw.

[wigglesrock]

I have a Sofia, her name is never shortened to Sophie, occasionally she gets Fia. What about Ana/Anna?

[jkklpu]

Isabel

[Kelerina]

Purely based on the fact that my dog is called Izzy I will vote for Isabel!!

[DawnOfTheDee]

Sofia. I know more Isabel's than any other name.

[thegreylady]

Sofia/Sophia much less used than the Isabel variations atm. My conusin's baby dgd is Sophia Francesca

[thegreylady]

Cousin

[PrincessSymbian]

For me, Sofia all the way, though I would spell it Sophia.

[RobinSparkles]

My DD1 has both of those names :)

I know a lot more Isabels - there are more in school although DD is the only one in her class. I do know a couple of baby Sophies/Sophias though.

[YouMayLogOut]

Both lovely names - hard to choose :) Prefer Isabella to Isabel.

[Ham69]

My 3yo DD was at gymnastics a couple of weeks ago and, out of a class of 8 girls, 4 were called Sofia. It's a lovely name but exceptionally popular, as is Isabel.
If I were you, I'd maybe ask for some slightly less popular suggestions.

[flopsy1974]

Much prefer Sofia. Lovely name

[ddas]

Agree they are both very popular names but we really love them so that wouldn't put us off. I guess people like them for the same reasons we do! However Maybe we also need to look for less popular names to and see if we like anything else as much.
We'd go for the versions/spellings of Sofia & Isabel rather than sophia/Isabella due to our Spanish connection & part of our surname is spanish. Think Isabella is the Italian version? But equally as beautiful a name.
Really like Elena as a name rooble but we know an Elena that we have bad past history with so couldn't use it without always thinking of the negative emotions that are associated with it. Silly I know.

[worldcitizen]

Love both, same in our family needed name reflecting Spanish/English combination. Our daughter is Isabel and she has an additional English middle name.
Sofia is awesome and love the meaning behind it. I love both and we went with Isabel as it suits and sounds better with surname, also a double-barrel one.

Personally wouldn't care about what's 'in' right now, as both names are classics and you'll find them in every generation for ages, possibly not in the UK, but certainly in Spain and all other Spanish speaking countries and across lots and lots of other Mediterranean countries and also across Germanic countries. And as your family is a Spanish/English mix, the 'in' wave will only suit you as it would make your child stand out less, and with that particular spelling plus her double barrel English/Spanish surname, she will be unique already.

So go for it

[SoMuchToBits]

I prefer Isabel. Interestingly I know a pair of twins called Sofia and Isabel!

[MolotovBomb]

I prefer Sofia (though I'd spell it Sophia). Love Isabel - I know a beautiful, lovely lady in her 50s with the name, as well as a few little girls under 10yo (who are Isobel/Isabella).

I prefer the sound an meaning of Sofia, which is why that name gets my vote :)

Both are so lovely - I can see why you're finding it tricky to choose!!

[EllenParsons]

Sofia!

Both v pretty though

[miaowmix]

I prefer Sofia, and it seems less popular where I am in S London. Sofia is v pretty, I only know one and she is also of mixed English/Spanish parentage. Nicknamed 'Fia' for short, never Sophie.

[ddas]

Thanks for all the comments- is definitely helping me with the decision. Think I'm starting to lean towards Sofia. Going to show DH this to convince him she won't get called Sophie though. Just have to hope now that she is indeed a girl & they haven't got it wrong ( we found out quite late at 30+ weeks so hope it's accurate!) as we have no boys names we can agree on at all so poor little man will be nameless till we can think of some!!

[givemeaclue]

Sophia much nicer than sofia -that is a city in Bulgaria!

[PolkaDotHippo]

Sofia is THE spelling in Portugal, all Spanish-speaking countries, Italy, Greece, and in the Scandinavian countries....

[ddas]

Yep if we went with Sofia it would be with that spelling as would feel odd to specifically chose a name due to it's Spanish roots & then not spell it in the Spanish way. Plus when I thought of the name it's the only spelling I had in my head. It's only coming on here that's made me realise some people would spell it Sophia.
worldcitizen it is interesting how in the uk it's more common to be looking for a unique one off name whist in a lot of European countries you notice the same names cropping up in every generation. My mums reaction to my comment that maybe I shouldn't use the names as they were common says it all: she looked at me as if I was mad and said so what if other people have the same name- she has a very common Spanish name as do most of that side of the family and they've never even given it a second thought.