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Baby names

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

Original poster

Adelaide or Isobel

43 replies

BabyKiwi1 · 16/04/2015 05:58

DH and I have managed to get down to two names that we both like, but are not sure whether to go for Adelaide since it is a bit unusual. Grateful for any thoughts!

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RedCheckedTablecloth · 19/04/2015 00:48

My cousin lives in Albury NSW and his DD is called Adelaide.

timelyreminder · 18/04/2015 23:39

Isobel is much nicer than Adelaide, which is a harsh-sounding place name.

5446 · 18/04/2015 15:14

Absolutely love Adelaide.

It's on my list for future DD, but DP has vetoed it as he is Aussie.

MoreCrackThanHarlem · 18/04/2015 15:11

Adelaide is lovely.
If I met an Adelaide I would think gosh, how lucky to have such a pretty, unusual name.
If I meet an Isobel I don't think anything. It's just a name (though a nice one).

Rhubarbgarden · 18/04/2015 14:58

Adelaide. Much prettier.

mysteryfairy · 18/04/2015 13:02

I don't think Adelaide is unusual enough to jump out or be considered odd/quirky. It's a lovely name. Isobel is too but I would go for the more uncommon one.

CockMcStuffins · 17/04/2015 19:15

Love Adelaide. Isobel is very popular which puts me off

Variousrandomthings · 17/04/2015 19:12

Isadora

LeonoraFlorence · 17/04/2015 14:04

I prefer Isobel :)

VT82 · 17/04/2015 12:24

I agree Isobel has been done to death.

I'd not heard of Adelaide before now, but have really warmed to it reading this post :)

MarmiteChocolate · 17/04/2015 07:51

Adelaide is gorgeous. and dd won't be one of 20 isobelle/isabellas at school!

swimmerforlife · 17/04/2015 05:11

Adelaide is gorgeous.

NadiaWadia · 17/04/2015 02:55

IHateHelloKitty oh guess that's alright about the 'laide' bit in French, then. Good news!

In English, I don't think 'Ad-delayed' would come up (never thought of that before), as I think the emphasis is on the 'Ad' of 'Adelaide'.

Ham69 · 17/04/2015 00:11

Adelaide. Beautiful.

PeppermintCrayon · 16/04/2015 23:08

Adelaide is also the name of a womble.

aoife24 · 16/04/2015 22:53

Adelaide was named for a person, the wife of William IV.

ashesandfire · 16/04/2015 22:33

Adelaide is so beautiful

I think Isobel is gorgeous too but it's popularity does put me off. I'm in the south east too and I know several, along with Isla I'd say it was the most popular name I know

burgatroyd · 16/04/2015 21:20

I know so many isobel and variants.
I prefer Adelaide

IHateHelloKitty · 16/04/2015 20:37

Adelaide too - lovely name

Nadia I would not worry about the "laide" bit in French, as in France, it is written Adélaïde and pronounced Ah-deh-leye-eed, not Ah-deh-laid.
About that, can I ask if the "laid" or "delayed" part is ever an issue in English or am I entirely mispronouncing Adelaide ?

KittyMcVitie · 16/04/2015 16:55

Isobel. Despite it's popularity I haven't heard it very often here in the South East. Isabella is more popular around her, but even so there is only one Isobel and two Izzys out of 100 or so girls at my local primary school. Loads of Lilys, Poppys and Sophies though!

nothinglikeit · 16/04/2015 16:17

I'd go with Adelaide personally, there's a lot of Isobels around at the moment, and she'd probably end up being one of 3 or 4 in her class at nursery/school. But, you know, pick the one you love most!

sweetpeame · 16/04/2015 14:29

I prefer Isobel to Adelaide. Do you prefer one over the other? I wouldn't pick Adeladie because it's less popular if you like Isobel more. I was one of three girls out of one hundred at school with my name and it never bothered me in the slightest. Still doesn't. One of the other girls with the same name became (and still is) my closest friend and again it has never bothered either of us or caused too much confusion. Likewise my daughter has a top 10 name, it's a beautiful, classic name and although it's "popular", we have only come across one other child in her nursery/Saturday play group/friends children etc with the same name and we're in London. On the other hand if you prefer Adelaide then go with that Smile

Variousrandomthings · 16/04/2015 14:06

I like both. Isobel is very popular though

swancourt · 16/04/2015 14:02

I said it before and I'll say it again, go with the name you absolutely love. Personally I love the name Isobel and I don't care if I meet a million of them, it will still be special to me. If I had gone for a name outside the top 100 just to tick that box, but I didn't like it so much, I'd always have regretted it. Similarly, don't worry that Adelaide is unusual. It's a well-known name (my own name is close to it - I get 'Addie' as an abbreviation a lot, though I don't like it - and people often mishear my name and think I said 'Adelaide'). If you love it, it won't matter a bit that it's unusual. Just pick the one you personally like the best. You can't go wrong with either.

TempsPerdu · 16/04/2015 13:57

Both are very pretty, but I'd go with Adelaide just because Isobel and all its variants are so incredibly popular at the moment. Isobel/Isabel/Isabelle added together would easily make the current top 5 according to the 2013 ONS stats (only know this because a close friend was thinking of naming her DD Isobel recently and did the research!). I'm a primary teacher, and while Isobel is lovely it's one of those names you become 'immune to' after a while because you hear it so often.

Adelaide sounds strong and has plenty of gravitas, while Addie makes a cute, less formal nickname - great combination in my opinion!