Gutted. Tell me I'm overreacting!

I only know one, my 11yo niece!

I know a few Islas - ranging from 2 years to 2 weeks.

It's not in the Evie/Ava league of popularity though.

I have an unusual name and unusual surname. Never knew another person with my name until I was in my twenties.. Then I moved to the UK and my father tried to connect with me on Skype. There is another lady who lives down the road from me, looks similar and has the exact same first and last name!! And she apparently doesn't like being called at odd hours by old men with Australian accents bellowing "Hello kitten, can you hear me?!" down the phone line. And get this... She named her DD the same as mine! We have never met but a friend met her and was so amazed at our double names and children names

I think it's a big wide world so no matter what chances are someone else is going share your name. Most important thing is to google your chosen name and surname, make sure there isn't a porn star or serial killer with the exact same one then go for it!

I know two, it is more popular but thats the eay these things go. I have a theo and an oscar when we chose them for our boys 13 and 11 yrs ago they were not popular names, they are now.

It's popular round here, in fact I overheard some mums saying so the other night while I was waiting for my DCs somewhere, but we aren't overrun with Islas. To be honest, even the most popular names in our school never seem to go beyond two in a class, so not that big a problem.
Whereas there were 5 Andrews in my class at school.

I think there are many worse things than having to be known as Isla X though.

"Didn't seem to bother Charles Darwin, James Blunt, John Lennon, Stephen Hawkins, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Margaret Thatcher, Helena Kennedy, Lisa Jardine, Sarah Cox, Mary Portas, Emma Watson..............."

How do you know that? Perhaps they didn't like having to add their initials or other adjectives to be identified in school - especially John, Steve, Sarah and Emma?

It is a popular name round these parts. Lovely name though.

I feel your pain, OP. When we named our first, the name wasn't even in the top 200 names, now it's really popular .

My only comfort is that we've never come across his name in the same age group as him.

I really like ISLA and have never met one in RL.

my daughter has a name that is very common now, she went though most of her school life being the only one in school, now she is in her last year there are 4 year 7's with the same name, confuses her when a teacher shouts out her name and its not her they are talking to, but we liked the name don't care how many other people have the same name as her.

It's kind of the new Ella round here (South London). Nice name.

But without their surnames, they'd not be identifable, would they? There are so many Johns, Steves, Emmas, Sarahs that their surname helps identify them.

I bet a John Smith or a Steve Jones will have a harder time identifying himself - there must be hundreds of them! In fact I was recently looking for one (medical specialist) with a similar common name, but was unable to locate him.

So, I guess it helps if either your first or surname are not that common .

Didn't seem to bother Charles Darwin, James Blunt, John Lennon, Stephen Hawkins, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Margaret Thatcher, Helena Kennedy, Lisa Jardine, Sarah Cox, Mary Portas, Emma Watson...............

Depending on which field you end up working, having a name that identifies you (e.g on the internet etc) can be very helpful.

Ha. Cuts both ways that. There's under half a dozen people in the country with my name. I am VERY visible on the internet, at all times, whether I like it or not.

"Gutted" is over reacting, especially as the name was on the popular lists. But I do understand feeling disappointed that you didn't realise, and understand not wanting your child to be known as "Isla initial". I picked Cara not realising how popular it was getting, and am also disappointed there is a good chance DD will go through school as "Cara initial". It's hardly the end of the world though is it. Maybe it will encourage our daughters to try harder at things and stand out that way.

I know one. She's 5.

Dd has a name that was very rare when we named her it. Now, it is constantly derided on here for being too popular. I don't care. It suits her!

I know two Islas so yes, it seems fairly popular.

"If a name is very widely used it loses its ability to identify a person and the names need a modifier (e.g. surname initial or some adjective). We sometimes forget why we name someone/something. Depending on which field you end up working, having a name that identifies you (e.g on the internet etc) can be very helpful."

This is such a modern idea- 20/30 years ago nobody thought like this at all.

Does she have a middle name that you could use instead?

Oops!

...babies, and have never met an Isla!

Fwiw I have a toddler and a baby, go to loads of groups, meet hundreds of

I know how you feel.
12 years ago when pg with DS1 his name was almost unheard of, now it's really popular and a bit 'chavvy'

I love the name Isla though. It was on my list for 2nd baby but he was a boy. I haven't heard of any round here though so perhaps not too popular yet. :)

Isla is very popular in some areas. It was the 15th most popular girls' name in England and Wales in 2011.

However, these things are regional, and you may not meet many others (for example, I only know one baby Olivia).

You should also bear in mind that there is no sure way to avoid using a popular name. Names can shoot up in popularity shortly after you name your baby, or you can have names which are popular in a particular area even if they are not generally popular (like when in my primary school class in the '80s there were three girls called Barbara!)

If you stll like the name, stop worrying about it.

"I just don't get the not wanting a popular name thing."

If a name is very widely used it loses its ability to identify a person and the names need a modifier (e.g. surname initial or some adjective). We sometimes forget why we name someone/something. Depending on which field you end up working, having a name that identifies you (e.g on the internet etc) can be very helpful.

Assuming you want an honest answer, then yes Isla is very popular. We know quite a few under age ten. And yes, I understand your frustration and yes, she may well have to add her surname initial to her name, but I don't think it has 'ruined' the name. Does she have a middle name that is less widely used?