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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Is Isla very very popular now?

31 replies

violetsmile · 23/07/2010 20:42

Me and dh are ttc dc2, we have ds aged 3 and already have a name if we have another ds but for a girl I love Isla, dh prefers Amy. so which would you go for? Popularity of a name doesn't actually put me off, there's obviously a reason a name is popular, usually because it's a nice name! BUT dh says Isla is bordering on over used and a too common for his liking now.

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qumquat · 28/07/2010 13:28

Isla is massively popular in Scotland but less so in other parts of the UK. I love it personally and have never been a fan of the name Amy.

zenoushka · 27/07/2010 10:34

I do know a LOT of Isla's under the age of 2. But it is a lovely name

ProfessorLaytonIsMyLoveSlave · 26/07/2010 09:55

It's not so much the absolute popularity, I think but that Isla is rocketing up in popularity in England and Wales it wasn't even in the top 100 in 2005, then was #94 in 2006, #65 in 2007 and #36 in 2008 so can seem quite "trendy". In Scotland it's even more popular -- has been in the top 100 for ages and currently running as the #11 name.

Amy, in contrast, had been a top 20 name in England and Wales for ages up to 2006, then dropped down to #23 in 2007 and #34 in 2008 (although it's been a pretty consistently top 10 name in Scotland and doesn't seem to be losing any popularity there).

So while there are more Amys than Islas, in England and Wales an Amy could have been born at almost any time while there's an overwhelming chance that an Isla will have been born somewhere around 2006-2012. And going forward Isla (a name on the way up) is likely to be more popular than Amy (a name on the way down).

In Scotland they are both madly and consistently popular and there's not much to choose between them in terms of popularity profile.

Mole007 · 26/07/2010 09:43

Isla was 36th most popular name in 2008 according to the national stats office, with 1592 baby girls being given that name. Amy came in at 34, with 1699 uses!

HTH

expatinscotland · 26/07/2010 09:20

Common up here in W. Scotland .

Original poster
violetsmile · 26/07/2010 09:17

Just realised, it wouldn't actualy bother me if Isla had been the top name for the past 10 years, I just LOVE it!!! Have shown dh a list that shows Amy as number 10 name in 2009 and Isla as 29 so I think I have convinced him. Thanks all. Will probably be a boy after all this!

OP posts:
JuJuu · 26/07/2010 00:25

2 friends have Islas (they don't know each other)

foreverastudent · 26/07/2010 00:18

They are both v popular at the moment.

Add the Aimees to the Amys then there are more of them than Islas.

onadietcokebreak · 25/07/2010 23:44

I know one Isla and there were several in the local baby competition in paper and have seen it a few times in birth announcements in paper.

valiumSingleton · 25/07/2010 23:06

I have seen it mentioned on this board but I don't know any! So I say, no.

cece · 25/07/2010 22:53

I don't know anyone called Isla, a few Amys but they are all 8 yrs old plus.

Alishanty · 25/07/2010 22:42

I know of about 3 Islas all under 3. Don't know any Amy's of that age. Both lovely names but think Amy is more classic and Isla a little bit more 'of the moment' iykwim.

5DollarShake · 25/07/2010 09:42

I don't know any young Islas, but went to primary school with one, and I'm 36 years old! Beautiful name.

Amy is a lovely name, but it is a bit run of the mill, IMO.

Ineedsomesleep · 25/07/2010 09:22

We know a few Islas and no children named Amy.

SmacsGonePotty · 25/07/2010 08:26

I know more Amys than Islas and much prefer Isla.

Firawla · 25/07/2010 08:20

isla is very popular with the under 3s at the moment
i havent personally come across any amy

CreepyFunbags · 24/07/2010 23:04

I don't know any Amys but I know someone in labour right now who plans to call her DD Isla!
I suppose she might not if she looks very un-Isla-y.

happysunshinedays · 24/07/2010 21:47

I have an Isla, 22 months. And she's gorgeous! Am very pleased we went for Isla and you definately sound as if you love it too. DH will come round. I reckon us women usually get our way when it comes to names. I did!! (Although made him think it was his idea)!

polkadottytotty · 24/07/2010 16:15

I know two Isla's - one is 6 and the other is 2. Don't know any Amy's personally - although there are quite a few at the secondary school where I teach.

NormanNorris · 24/07/2010 13:04

I agree that Isla will crash and burn whereas Amy is more classic. isla is mega mega popular round here and they are all under 5.

Original poster
violetsmile · 24/07/2010 09:31

Thanks, I need to work on dh I think!

OP posts:
Blanchet · 23/07/2010 22:50

I do like Amy though.

Blanchet · 23/07/2010 22:49

I would go for Isla; yes, it has got a lot more popular recently, but I don't see it being quite as popular as Amy has been. Amy is so, so common in the 10-30 age bracket (common as in popular not as in downmarket!), so it's starting to get a bit dated and I disagree with your dh that Amy is always popular because it was completely out of fashion in my parents' and grandparents' generations. I think its last heyday was Victorian times before our generation. But it is more familiar compared to Isla, yes.

Tortoise · 23/07/2010 20:58

I know 1 Isla age 4 and 1 Amy age 6.

DancingThroughLife · 23/07/2010 20:56

That's exactly how we chose our DDs name. We had Darcey as our 'more unusual' choice and Lucie as our 'everyday' choice. Loved both names, but preferred no. 1. On the day, she just looked like a Darcey, not a Lucie, so that's her name

Also, the L in Lucie didn't go as well with our surname, whereas the D goes much better!