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Baby names

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Original poster

Ophelia or Isla??

54 replies

Balletmummyxx · 09/02/2018 09:44

Don’t mind about popularity of Isla. These are the final two we’ve narrowed it down to and due in 2 weeks! Help!

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Xmamalovex · 18/02/2018 12:41

These were the 2 we narrowed it down to when I was pregnant with my daughter!
We ended up going with Isla Florence as someone said Ophelia sounds like 'a feel of your' & I just couldn't get it out of my head xx

VileyRose · 10/02/2018 21:23

I dislike Ophelia. Do like Isla.

FellOutOfBed2wice · 10/02/2018 21:22

Tatiana well, she was wet after she fell in the river Grin

Dozer · 10/02/2018 20:55

Yeah, Shakespeare couldn’t be arsed when writing the women in Hamlet.

Hamlet is even more wet than Ophelia. There’s a great cartoon “what if hamlet wasn’t so darn wishy washy”.

Achafi · 10/02/2018 20:49

Ophelia. I've met three Isla's born in the last year. Lovely name but far too popular.

Pineau · 10/02/2018 20:46

I like the French version, Ophélie

TatianaLarina · 10/02/2018 20:44

I don’t think she is wet she’s just rather underwritten. Shakespeare’s preoccupied with Hamlet.

My favourite character is Rosalind.

OlennasWimple · 10/02/2018 20:35

I don't like either much, but I couldn't call a DD "island" so it would have to be Ophelia

Dozer · 10/02/2018 20:32

Dislike Ophelia because of the tragic, and wet, character in Hamlet.

Like Olivia more.

TatianaLarina · 10/02/2018 20:30

I do. I like tragic death scenes - whether it’s Dido’s Lament - ‘when I am laid, am laid in earth..’ or Cathy in WH ‘why did you betray your heart?’ or La Boheme or Ralph Touchett ‘death is good but there is no love’ etc.

Their death doesn’t put me off a character in the slightest, if the name is beautiful and the life is dramatic it’s all good.

FellOutOfBed2wice · 10/02/2018 19:26

Tatiana I’m with Daisypond on this one. No one wants to hear “Well you’re named after the Shakespeare character who had the most beautiful death....”

daisypond · 10/02/2018 19:24

Tatiana I don't think it's precious at all. There's only one Ophelia and her story is wretched. There aren't any other Ophelias with happier tales.

FizzyGreenWater · 10/02/2018 19:19

Oh yes Fifi.

I guess that's the best short form.

FizzyGreenWater · 10/02/2018 19:18

Isla is so popular now that I'd go for Ophelia on that alone.

However - lovely though Ophelia is, it's not one I'd choose as I don't think the options for shortening are at all great. Feelz? Feelie? La? Offy? Lia? Hmm. It's also a bit fussy sounding somehow, eg compared to somethign like Aurelia which is very similar, but far stronger.

So - not sure!

TatianaLarina · 10/02/2018 19:15

I find the preciousness about the deaths of literary/mythological figures tiresome.

She’s the love of one of Shakespeare’s most compelling tragic heros who has one of the most beautifully described deaths in literature. ‘Our cold maids do dead men’s fingers call them’... And a beautiful painting of her despite the fact I don’t like preRaphaelites.

It’s a shame I don’t like the name, but I like the character.

FellOutOfBed2wice · 10/02/2018 19:05

daisypond thank God someone else thinks this too. I’ve noticed an explosion of Ophelias in my corner of London (three at my DDs nursery) and I just want to shout “why have you named your kid after a singing, suicidal lunatic?!” Whenever I hear it. But I don’t, obviously.

So based on that, I’d go for Isla. Which I think is very nice.

Madmarchpear · 10/02/2018 18:54

Agree orla is a good alternative.

Quickerthanavicar · 10/02/2018 18:52

Practice shouting it across Tesco car park.

ohlittlepea · 10/02/2018 18:45

Orla? Good mix of the two :)
Isla is beautiful but there are so so so many here (south east)
Ophelia is a bit Hyacinth Bucket and theres the whole 'I feel ya...' thing

Sox113 · 10/02/2018 18:33

Ophelie, lovely. Ophelia - how many times will you correct the punctuation? Isla - dull which is why it's common! Imho!

PinkAvocado · 10/02/2018 18:23

Per 100 that should have said!

PinkAvocado · 10/02/2018 18:23

Isla may be high ranked in terms of popularity but you still aren’t going to find many per 10 girls.

Ophelia or Isla??
floriad · 10/02/2018 17:35

Isla is too popualar imo.
Ophelia is nice but there are nicer names imo.

daisypond · 10/02/2018 17:15

Isla over Ophelia any day, although I'm not hugely keen on Isla. Ophelia has a pretty sound, but I wouldn't name a child after a Shakespeare character who goes mad and drowns herself.

RavenWings · 10/02/2018 16:45

Ophelia is terrible imo.
I don't like Isla, way too popular, but I'd choose it in a heartbeat over Ophelia.