Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Is Isabelle Too Common?

45 replies

Caribun · 02/08/2023 21:50

Hubby and I are expecting DD2 in January. DD1 is Natalie (Tilly) and we think we've settled on Isabelle (Izzy) for DD2 but now we're worrying that Isabella is so common that there are going to be hundreds of Izzy's or Belle's in her year.

Would this bother you or should we stick with it? It's the first name we've managed to agree on! 😂

Also, thoughts on the middle name Adelaide? The other option was Ellen but Isabelle Ellen seems like too many e's and l's in a row!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
TheaBrandt · 04/08/2023 08:18

If I never hear any variant of Eve / Isabel / Olivia / Lily or Grace again I would be perfectly happy ! (Two older / mid teen girls in a girls school!). Good to hear different names

Westfacing · 04/08/2023 08:00

I'd go with Adelaide!

But if you want an 'Izzy' why not Isadora?

Howmanysleepsnow · 04/08/2023 07:56

I’ve not come across any in any of my 4 DC’s classes.
DD’s name was number 3 in the year she was born and so far she’s encountered 1 other in her high school (180 children in the year), 1 in primary school (3 years below her though) and that’s it! I think that nowadays the spread of names is so large that even the popular names aren’t as commonly repeated as they were 30/40 years ago.

SallyWD · 04/08/2023 07:48

I actually don't know any Isabelles and I have 2 children at school and worked in a primary school.

Orangepeg · 04/08/2023 07:25

I think if you combined all the spellings it would be the most popular girls name, above Olivia.

TheaBrandt · 04/08/2023 06:18

So bored of it. Its appeal has been diluted through over use. Why does everyone pick the same few names? I would go for Adelaide that’s great don’t know any.

user1492757084 · 04/08/2023 05:55

Natalie and Isabelle do well as sisters.

Isabelle Adelaide is long and complex in sound.
Other ideas ..
Isabeau Adele
Isabelle Ada
Isadora Adelaide
Isolde Adelaide
Eliza Adelaide
Elizabeth Adele
Izella Adelaide
Isotta Adelaide

FayCarew · 03/08/2023 10:17

@caringcarer 's dog might be called Isabella literally 'is a bella' but the name doesn't mean that. It's a form of Elizabeth, meaning 'God is my oath'.

Isabelle is fairly common, but the combination of Isabelle, Isabella, Isabel, Isobel makes the name seem overused.

Bells3032 · 03/08/2023 08:28

We have an Isabelle who we call Izzy. We have friends with similar age kids. one is Izzy (just Izzy). I know a couple of 3-4 year olds called Isabellas but who care. its a lovely name and that's why its popular.

Go with what you love.

Also we are thinking of Tilly if we have another girl (though short for Matilda).

YourCrackersMiLord · 03/08/2023 08:23

Isabelle and Adelaide are both royal names - so neither can be common Grin

Original poster
Caribun · 03/08/2023 08:15

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 03/08/2023 07:41

That’s great, but as the OP has started a thread specifically asking about popularity I think we can safely infer that it might be an issue for her.

Show quote history

It is and it isn't, we landed on it because we both think it's beautiful (and I do prefer the Isabel spelling so I may push for it). We know a fair few parents etc. and hadn't come across an Isabel/ Isabella before but then realised it's high up in the common names which surprised us. I don't overly mind if there are one or two, much like Catherine's and Rachel's when I was at school I suppose, but if every other child is going to be called Isabel or some variant of, it puts me off it a little bit if that makes sense.

I don't mind her not being completely unique, we didn't choose Natalie for DD1 because it's uncommon but because we loved it, but I also don't want her to be lost in a sea of Izzy's.

I do like the idea of Adelaide as a first name, Natalie and Adelaide is quite sweet but Hubby wasn't that much of a fan.

Regards spellings, we do have French heritage, and Hubby has an Uncle who still lives in France who we see regularly which may have influenced our spelling choices, so we'll need to have a think.

OP posts:
LSSG · 03/08/2023 07:53

There are 4 in dd's 2 class year, along with a Bella and an Isabella. Age 7.

GiddyGladys · 03/08/2023 07:47

Loads of Izzy's around here.

Belltentdreamer · 03/08/2023 07:43

I much prefer the Isobel spelling

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 03/08/2023 07:41

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 03/08/2023 07:38

personally I don’t find names being popular an issue, there is a reason they are popular but it depends if it’s something that bothers you.

Love Adelaide and if it’s a family name just go for it.

That’s great, but as the OP has started a thread specifically asking about popularity I think we can safely infer that it might be an issue for her.

Sauvignonblanket · 03/08/2023 07:41

Maybe go Isabel Adelaide so it's a bit short overall if you're worried

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 03/08/2023 07:39

You have to tot up the combined spellings.

If you combined the Isabels, Isobels and Isabelles born in 2021 they would be at #14, coincidentally one place above Isabella as a name in its own right. That’s a lot of Izzys: too many for me but not necessarily for you.

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 03/08/2023 07:38

personally I don’t find names being popular an issue, there is a reason they are popular but it depends if it’s something that bothers you.

Love Adelaide and if it’s a family name just go for it.

cptartapp · 03/08/2023 06:35

NoraF · 02/08/2023 23:56

I really don’t think Natalie is that much less common than Isabelle/Isabella, so might as well go with the name that you love.

It's way way less common, Natalie is a great name.
Isabelle very meh due to its popularity.
Not keen on Izzy.

MrsSamR · 03/08/2023 06:13

There are two in my daughter's pre-school class (one Isabelle and one Isabel). She's 3. My niece is also called Isabelle and she's 15. I do think it's very popular but if that doesn't bother you then go for it.

PeanutButterOnToad · 03/08/2023 03:02

I think it is a beautiful name and basically you should give children names you love without worrying too much about popularity. I gave one of my boys a name that was unusual at the time, now it is a top three name in more than one English speaking country. I absolutely adore the name though so don’t care.

TooBigForMyBoots · 03/08/2023 02:59

Isabelle is not common. It's necessary. Especially on a bike.Grin

Theoldwoman · 03/08/2023 02:56

I prefer Isobel spelling.

Isobel Adelaide is lovely.

Natalie and Isobel flow well together.

Not a fan of Izzy.

Flippingfruitflies · 03/08/2023 00:50

My dd is Isabelle and she gets Izzy. She’s one of 3 in her nursery class.

Lilyargin · 03/08/2023 00:40

Isabel is a lovely name. So many people spell it the French way, with a double l and e but unless you have French ancestry, I wouldn't spell it that way. Isobel is the Scottish version.
I think Isabelle is over done and shows that people aren't aware of the various heritages of the name.
If you do have French heritage, go for it.
It's a bit like Annabelle. The English spelling is Annabel. There is no French version with a double l, e as it's not a French name, but that is the most common spelling of this name.
For people mentioning Adelaide, I don't really like this name, as 'laide' is French for ugly, and the name is an English variant of the German name Adelheid. Like a lot of German names, it's heavy-sounding to me.
I do have two nieces called Isabel and Adelaide though and they're both great people.
If you do choose Isabel, which is a beautiful name, spell it traditionally is my advice.

Swipe left for the next trending thread