DH has chosen a really popular name. Tell me it doesn't matter?

I have an isla..dont know any others at all. Must depend on the area im guessing.

I know one Isla. She's 42

It is ridiculously popular here but as others have said, that's because it's a nice name. I have a DS called Joseph, I think that was about #14 the year he was born, I've never met another Joseph at baby group or toddlers or whatever but from reading on here other areas are inundated with Joe's.

I don't think the issue here is the popularity of the name Isla, I think it's the face that you don't seem to like it very much. You really don't have to call your baby something you don't like it just because your DH does. My DH wants to call this baby Stanley and I can tell you that really isn't happening!!

DD is Isla - we realised I was pg when we were in the Hebrides and it just seemed to fit. Am a bit :( that it's so popular, but it was the right name for us.

Isla is lovely
(Provided your surname isn't Mann, White, Dogs etc)

Sorry, couldn't resist!

Layla
Lela
Lila
Lyra
Lara

?

I dont know of any babies called that I worked in a childrens centre and there were very much common names that wasnt one of them. Its a lovely name. In my prrimary school there were 5 chris' in my class however after primary school secondary school made a big difference and they didnt seem common at all amongst all the hundreds of names. So even if it seems really common now in say her nursery class it only lasts a couple of years. The chris' were known by their surnames in class and gave them their own personalities. You oh is in love and if you really like it too dont let the common factor change a lovely name.

I myself am due James next month and it is fairly common but in my head it can be such a variety of nicknames the name is changeable

Also, if it is bothering you now it is likely only to get worse - I think you need to be happy with your baby's name at the outset at least! (I know there will always be some compromise whenever two people are involved in the naming process). Fwiw my alternatives were Iris and Iona (but didn't go with surname.) I would consider Iona maybe if I were you, similar feel much less popular.

Don't stick with it just to keep your husband happy. There are a lot of names out there, pick one you both like.

My name was #1 the year I was born. I never had another person with my name in my class at school, college or uni, never had another in my social circle or worked with one - it's never bothered me or been a problem in the slightest. Isla is lovely, I would stick with it.

My daughter has this name though with a different spelling. It was number 65 when we chose it (ish) so is extremely gutting it is now in the top 10. This bothered me a lot as I watched my it climb the charts! Thankfully she is the only one in her school (so far) but if you use it now there will probably be multiples in the class. I would personally choose something else (but then I avoided a top 10 name and looke what happened!)

It's a beautiful name, but the popularity would put me off. Does your DH realise how popular it is?

Actually it's one in every sixth class assuming only half the class will be girls!

Even the top few names are only used for about 1 per cent of babies so that's about 1 in every third class on average. And most names aren't in those top few. So if you like it then use it!

If you don't both love the name Isla, then please don't use it! One of you will regret if afterwards. There are 1000s of lovely girls name, hopefully you can find one you BOTH love!

Personally I find Isla a little overused. The purpose of naming a person is to identify him/her, ideally without having to add a surname or other adjective.

But the main thing is that YOU both love it, not us!

'He will not want to change it, so I will have to suck it up.'

That's really not how it should go OP. The child should be given a name you both like and it doesn't sound as though you like this name at all. You say there aren't any names that you like but that can't be true.

I wouldn't agree to Isla unless I wanted my daughter to be called Isla, you both get to decide on a name, not just him.

I was about to suggest Isabel as an alternative to Isla, but just checked and Isabella is number 3 and Isabelle is at 5, so maybe not! Again, popular because it's a bloody good name though :) and alright I'm biased

If he loves the name and you really like it, use it!
The only other alternative listed above I like as much as Isla is Ailsa incidentally.

It would bother me, my name is common. It's a PITA.

It's only popular because it's so lovely :)

I have a very popular name (for my age group), which one of my best friends shares. Never bothered either of us.
My dd3 has a currently popular name, two of her close friends have the same name. It doesn't bother us or cause any problems.

Sorry but it would put me right off. I have a common name myself so veered away from that. When I first got pregnant dh and I decided on Emily or Olivia before realising our whole generation had the same idea!

Find it fascinating that we all seem to pick the same names. After realising how common our favourites were we got abit more imaginative. You can have great standard names that aren't overused yet aren't wacky either. My current favourite is tess. Weirdly underused but great name. Likewise Mary or Zoe. If popularity bothers you a avoid any derivative of eve, Alice, sophie or Amelia. Ok names now lost all charm through overuse imo

If you don't like it, surely it's a moot point? Has to be a name you both love. IMO, nobody should have to just 'agree'
There are thousands upon thousands of names. Find one you both like equally.

For the record, Isla is a lovely name. Popular yes, but lovely.

"Aylah, perhaps?"

Please don't, it is awful. Doesn't spell as Isla sounds imo.

"Islay is the Scottish spelling although pronounced the same. Worth a thought?"

Do you live in Scotland, OP? if not this would be a nightmare for your child.

Nothing suggested as an alternative on here is anywhere near as lovely as Isla. Talk to your DH and tell him how you are feeling. One of you might change your mind as both of you needs to be happy. A mum is posting about changing her baby's name as she isn't happy months in. You don't want that.

I wasn't that fussed what we call the kids tbh. I let DH pick 4/6 names. I picked one middle and DC1 picked the other. DH made suggestions, I said no or yes and that was that.

I wouldn't go for a hugely popular name if I was you, as it sounds as though it would bother you to hear that name at playgroups / school etc.

Similar sounding / type of names:

Naomi
Nina
Nyah
Thalia
Elsa
Mairi
Ida