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Baby names

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

Original poster

Isabella? Honest thoughts please!

56 replies

DoveGreylove · 12/03/2019 15:24

Hello!

Our current favourite girls name is Isabella. What do people think when they hear this name? Is it too common? Would you think, "oh here comes another Isabella"?

If you hate it or think it's far too common, what names would you suggest instead? We are rather stuck here...

Thanks!

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Colourpencils · 12/03/2019 18:18

It's too fussy and twee sorry

cheaperthebetter · 12/03/2019 18:17

Too many 😕..just like Ellie's and Alfie's ...Honestly I think of something similar or different 😊

sharpstick · 12/03/2019 18:15

Way too many out there, along with all the variations and shortenings.

Duchess I love Christabel!

Most of your suggestions are pretty popular right now. The only one I don’t like from your second list though is Mila.

DuchessOfPhysics · 12/03/2019 18:11

I have never met a Christabel though and I do like Christy and Christa and Belle, so I have a soft spot for Christabel. (Pankhurst inspired you could say)

DuchessOfPhysics · 12/03/2019 18:10

Loads my daughter's age. I like it but I think simpler names are more in fashion now. My tastes have changed too. My daughter has a name that is similarly frilly I guess and if I were choosing now, I'd probably pick something like Jane, Mary or Ruth. My tastes have really changed in 16 years.

Saffrona · 12/03/2019 18:07

I love love Isabella. Who cares about popularity?

If you want something similar but different I would suggest:

Isadora or Annabelle

As for your other options

Ivy- no
Mila- if short for Amelia (which is more popular) or Camilla
Sofia- love sophia/sofia but also popular
Emma- meh ok

If you love a name use it.

Allthecolours · 12/03/2019 18:04

Alice? Mauve?

Allthecolours · 12/03/2019 18:02

Sophia is the next most common name I know. I only know 2 girls named Ivy though. I haven't heard of Mila.

Allthecolours · 12/03/2019 18:00

The most popular girls name I know.

HighestMountains · 12/03/2019 18:00

Very overused, as are all the variations of it and the similar Annabel and its variations.

Moominfan · 12/03/2019 17:58

Popular where I am. If you love it op go for it

MsTSwift · 12/03/2019 17:56

Done to death. Every friendship group has an Izzy

SleepingIsOverrated · 12/03/2019 16:16

I have a 5 year old at school and I only know of 1. She's known as Belle too, so I don't think it's common in this part of the Midlands!

RuthW · 12/03/2019 16:05

Loads and loads of Isabelle, Isabella, Annabel, Annabella, Arabella and all the different spellings around here.

Original poster
DoveGreylove · 12/03/2019 16:02

Thanks for all of your replies :)

My main concern is the popularity of the name which a lot of you have confirmed!

Other names we had on our list (none of them I love though):
Ivy
Mila
Sofia
Emma

I have realised I like pretty sounding names, with vowels.

OP posts:
FiddleFaddleDingDong · 12/03/2019 15:46

Gabriella
Natalia
Mirabelle
Christabel
Allegra
Estella
Valentina
Marissa

Loopytiles · 12/03/2019 15:46

Not met many, quite like, not too keen on Bella, so prefer Isabelle or Isobel.

NameChangeNugget · 12/03/2019 15:46

Its a beautiful name. I know two Isabella’s, both are in Spain

Jackshouse · 12/03/2019 15:44

I really like Isobel when I was pregnant with DD (3). I had only heard of one older person called it then I found out every second girls seemed to be called a variation of it.

AdoreTheBeach · 12/03/2019 15:44

Love it. I once had a fabulous co-worker named Isabella and she shortened it to Issy. My daughter had a beautiful friend (grew into a stunning young woman) called Isabella and was never shortened/nickname. Of course, there’s Bella if you’d like a nickname too.

aliceandkids77 · 12/03/2019 15:43

it is very common but if it's popular then its for a reason! a very pretty name imo and has lots of nns.

spritesandunicorns · 12/03/2019 15:42

I’ve taught far too many Isabella’s and variations. I liked it years ago but it’s become too common imho.

FiddleFaddleDingDong · 12/03/2019 15:42

I like the pp suggestion of Natasha. That's lovely.

FiddleFaddleDingDong · 12/03/2019 15:40

It is a nice name (although four syllables it two too many for me) but does seem like it's been very popular for a very long time. I know lots of them from about the age of 11 down.

thefirst48 · 12/03/2019 15:35

I know of around 5 young Isabella's. To common for me.

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