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Baby names

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

Original poster

Isla Penelope? Opinions wanted pretty please...

37 replies

Lozzabell · 17/01/2014 10:44

So I'm pregnant with my first...
We don't know what it's going to be but are pretty decided on the name Max if it's a boy, and Isla if it's a girl.

I really like Penelope as a middle name for Isla...

I'd love to hear people's thoughts/opinions/suggestions on this as it's obviously quite unusual...

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JessicaD21 · 21/01/2014 21:06

I really like it is a pretty name and penelope is a nice middle name for it, congratulations on your pregnancy :) x

BunnyLebowski · 21/01/2014 20:40

Emmeline/Emmie is absolutely gorgeous!

Original poster
Lozzabell · 21/01/2014 20:38

After much deliberation - I 'think' we may have decided on Emmeline Penelope. Emmy/Emmie as nn.
Love the grandma and Pankhurst connection too.
Everyone's help has been invaluable. Grin
After all this I'll probably end up having a boy haha

OP posts:
Original poster
Lozzabell · 21/01/2014 18:37

Hmmm yes they are almost the same... but I'm still drawn to it.
Other possibilities are:

Molly (DH grandmothers name)
Emmie/Emmy (my great gran name)

OP posts:
BunnyLebowski · 20/01/2014 23:32

Hmmm. In my opinion Aela still sounds very similar to Isla and might be confused with it and mispronounced.

Do you like names beginning with vowels? Some might be a bit too Irish/Scottish.

Ailbhe (Ale-va)
Eilish (Ai-lish)
Eilidh
Ailsa
Elsa
Iona

Any good?

Original poster
Lozzabell · 20/01/2014 23:20

Thank you all so much for your advice/opinion. It's really helped and changed my mind massively!
What I stupidly didn't think of, is that (obviously) just because I don't know any Islas etc doesn't mean it's not popular for the new generation.
I spoke to a nursery teacher yesterday who also told me she had 4 Islas at her nursery!
So... I've since found a name I really like - and from what I know it's not very common :|

It's Aela - pronounced Ale-a (not eye-la)
A Celtic name.

So I'm now thinking Aela Penelope...

OP posts:
TunipTheUnconquerable · 20/01/2014 10:34

Beautiful names, but a few years ago 4 of my friends had daughters and 3 of them were called Isla!

My dd has Penelope as a middle name so obviously I love it.

Algorithm · 20/01/2014 10:31

Think they sound lovely together but I think Penelope Isla would be better as she won't be stuck with a name that could be common for her age bracket in the future and Isla hasn't really got the greatest NN potential (I am a great believer of good NN potential due to having a name with one NN that in reality just chops off the latter half of my name Hmm) whereas Penelope has Nellie, Penny etc.,

Spychic · 20/01/2014 01:45

Ava is very popular as well. However, my son had a popular name and I don't care, if you love a name use it! For what it's worth I think the names work equally well both ways round. I prefer Penelope but she's your daughter not mine Smile

Viviennemary · 19/01/2014 23:11

I think both names are OK but they don't really sound well together.

Original poster
Lozzabell · 19/01/2014 23:07

Perhaps Ava rather than Isla...

OP posts:
kiwikaterpillar · 19/01/2014 21:52

I think it sounds beautiful but agree that Isla is very popular atm.
We named our DD Iya Elizabeth (and everyone at first calls her Isla by mistake!)

TeaAndFag · 19/01/2014 21:19

My 18mo DD is Isla Smile I just love it. Not too keen on Penelope, personally I think the name sounds better with a one syllable middle name (my Isla's middle name is Rose)

BunnyLebowski · 19/01/2014 21:12

I know SIX different baby/small Islas.

It is extremely popular. Which some people don't mind but is an instant deal breaker for me.

I'm not mad keen on Penelope either so not much help.

Original poster
Lozzabell · 19/01/2014 21:04

Wow I didn't realise Isla was so popular. I live in Essex and I literally don't know a single Isla... I thought it was quite rare... But obviously not Confused
Yikes this tough! It's great to have help on this - thank you

OP posts:
lljkk · 19/01/2014 20:11

I know a Max w/ Sis called Isla. If you love it use it.

DreamingOfAFullNightsSleep · 19/01/2014 20:02

I have an Isla. She's 3. If I'd have known it would.be so popular I'd probably have not given in to Dh, who had his heart set on it, and gone for iona or imogen

It is a pretty name, and with Penelope too, but I'm in a village and there are 3 or 4 Isla's in the same village aged under 4!!!

Varya · 19/01/2014 19:50

Love the name Isla Penelope, its really great.

sleepingbeautiful · 19/01/2014 19:46

Prefer Penelope Isla for sure. (unless your surname would make dodgy initials).

jazzyjenbo · 19/01/2014 13:24

I'm expecting and the first name that came to me was Isla ... I love it.. But for me is just to popular now. My other 2 kids names were not in the top 100 names when i had them (sons is now but daughters still isnt).
Try not to think about it and the perfect name will come to you.. I watch alot of the american baby programmes (baby er etc on sky) to get inspiration. X

mrstowers · 18/01/2014 22:59

I love the name Isla but it is overly popular here where I live. I much prefer it to Penelope though.

DramaAlpaca · 18/01/2014 20:51

I think Isla Penelope is lovely. If you don't mind two middle names Isla Penelope Jane is really nice.

MummyKanny · 18/01/2014 20:50

I love Isla! Very pretty name.

Not if your surname is Mann though... Grin

GiniCooper · 18/01/2014 20:49

I love both names, just not together.
They don't flow properly for me.

Isla P. Surname.
No, sorry.

Penelope I. Surname,
is a little better

Charotte31 · 18/01/2014 20:44

My DD is an Isla- best name in the world! Yes it's getting more popular but does that really matter if you love the name.
I love max too!
I'm expecting my 2nd soon and can not think of a girls name I like as much as Isla.
Good luck choosing xx