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Baby names

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

Original poster

Isla or Frankie for baby girl - can’t decide

39 replies

Emmarooney · 13/09/2023 11:40

Hi there,

My Second daughter was born 2 weeks ago and we’re really struggling to decide between two names for her.
Her big sister is India (Indy) Rose

we either want to go for
Frankie Isla
or
Isla Frankie

Frankie is a nod to my late grandmother who was Frances but I don’t love the name Fran so concerned it would be shortened to that and that it is quite trendy vs timeless

Isla is popular but that doesn’t bother us so much as having 2 ‘I’ names. Not a huge deal but not ideal perhaps.

welcome people’s thoughts!!
Thanks!

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CurlewKate · 13/09/2023 12:33

@twinmum2022 "@CurlewKate Frankie can be a girls name."

According to Mumsnet, so can James.....

DuchessOfSausage · 13/09/2023 12:31

Frances or Francesca nn Frankie.
Isla is too popular.

davinasshorts · 13/09/2023 12:23

Frances is classy and not common yet totally normal

davinasshorts · 13/09/2023 12:22

Frances is lush! Go with that with Frankie as a nickname

RuthW · 13/09/2023 12:21

To me, Frankie is a nn so Frances Isla.

Isla is too popular at the moment.

ChocolateCroissantCafe · 13/09/2023 12:20

Isla Frances has more of a similar feel to India Rose IMO, and less likelihood of anyone shortening it as it won't be used as often. I think Frankie on its own might invite a lot of 'what's it short for?' as it's not used as a freestanding name as often, not a disaster but just something to consider.

BirdiePlantaganet · 13/09/2023 12:13

Isla is lovely. As is Frances.

Frankie is horrid.

TheBirdintheCave · 13/09/2023 12:12

Isla Frances would be my choice. As a middle name you don't need to worry about the diminutive issue.

Sleepnplay · 13/09/2023 12:06

I prefer Isla Frankie, and as pp said Frankie could still easily become Fran.

twinmum2022 · 13/09/2023 11:52

@Emmarooney I like Isla Frankie 😊 and there's a good chance Frankie may end up Fran as she gets older which I agree isn't as nice as Frankie. May just end up Frank though which I also quite like but depends if you'd mind?

Not a lot you can shorten Isla to 😊

twinmum2022 · 13/09/2023 11:50

@CurlewKate Frankie can be a girls name.

CurlewKate · 13/09/2023 11:49

Please not Frankie. Give her a girl's name. How about Francesca if you don't like Frances?

PollyPeep · 13/09/2023 11:46

Have you said them together out loud? You'll be saying the two names together a LOT, shouting them across the playground, introducing them together etc. They either sound like you're saying "Indian Frankie" or "Indian Isla". Personally I'd go for Isla as I just couldn't unhear Indian Frankie, and worry about the small chance I met an Indian person called Frankie lol. And I think Indian isla(nd) sounds kind of cool.

Either that or you try to say the youngest first in the pairing, which won't come naturally but will avoid the issue! Then again, maybe this isn't an issue at all, and it's just me!

cherryassam · 13/09/2023 11:43

I much prefer the flow of Isla Frankie.

I find the the -ie going into the Is- quite difficult to say the other way around

But I do think it can be difficult to have the same initial for two DC so in that sense Frankie Isla might be better. After all, it’s not that often that you’ll say the full name.