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Baby names

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

Original poster

Isla or Elsie?

30 replies

MooMoo496 · 16/06/2025 20:39

We can’t decide!

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PumpkinsAndCoconuts · 18/06/2025 10:04

Isla is lovely but quite popular (which isn’t necessarily a negative. Unless your surname happens to be Smith or Brown…)

Elsie is twee (and I personally really dislike it).

Iona? Elodie? Elise?

Purplecatshopaholic · 17/06/2025 06:59

Admittedly I don’t get the ‘old lady names’ fad that’s so popular at the moment. But is everyone really giving birth to 70 years just now? (Joke - don’t start. I’m sure if you have a baby Elsie, it’s really sweet….)

Quacking4it · 17/06/2025 04:38

I always thought Eloise was a lovely name.

MondeoFan · 17/06/2025 04:11

Isla is way too popular now for me to consider if it’s a nice name or not. There’s soooo many other names out there

A8888 · 17/06/2025 02:56

Elsie is lovely

Isla is horrible

Pemba · 17/06/2025 00:59

I voted Isla but it's been so popular for a while. I don't know many little girls but I know 2 Islas (and one Ayla pronounced the same as Isla). It's fine, but overused and a bit uninspiring.

Isobel/Isabel or Isabella looks similar written down. Also has been very popular, but it's gorgeous where Isla just isn't imo.

Elsie to me still has a strong old lady vibe. Yes I realise it's been very popular for a while now. I suppose it's pretty in a way but a young Elsie seems incongruous to me, although obviously there are plenty now. It's also a little cutesy.

Elise as suggested here is much more sophisticated and attractive. Elsa would be OK, or what about Eloise which is gorgeous. Eliza is also lovely.

TulipZero · 17/06/2025 00:13

I love both names but I do prefer Elsie! For me, the choice would depend on the surname and any middle names. SJ Strum on YouTube specialises in baby names if you’re looking for inspiration from an “expert”

48mumof6 · 17/06/2025 00:09

Isla is beautiful but getting very popular I think, love “granny names” like Elise, it’s what Jack Whitehall and his partner need their daughter

GentleOliveFatball · 17/06/2025 00:07

SeanMaguire · 16/06/2025 23:06

Both very tedious

Bro get a life

GentleOliveFatball · 17/06/2025 00:06

Purplecatshopaholic · 16/06/2025 21:21

Literally anything but Elsie.

What's wrong with Elsie? 😭

Jollyjollyjollygoodie · 17/06/2025 00:05

Isla. ❤️

I can't separate Elsie from the Elsie Tanner who was in Coronation Street, years ago.

Conkerjar · 17/06/2025 00:03

Perhaps unhelpful but I know dogs with both names. Elsie sounds old. Isla sounds younger. I prefer Isla, if I have to choose.

AnneMarieW · 16/06/2025 23:35

Agree with those who suggested similar Elsa or Elise - both much more elegant imo, even if they follow similar sounds/trends. I love Elisabeth even more but I suspect that’s not your style OP or you would have gone for Elsie as the nickname.

But out of your two options, I guess I’d pick Isla even though it’s very very trendy and so may not age well. Elsie seems to blend in to all the Ellie’s/Ella’s, Evie’s and Esme’s to me (there’s 3 of those names including an Elsie in my DC’s tiny nursery class alone 🤣)

LettingyougoMovingOn · 16/06/2025 23:12

Isla is much nicer than Elsie.

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 16/06/2025 23:10

MayaPinion · 16/06/2025 20:43

What about Elise? That’s somewhere between the two.

Lovely

SeanMaguire · 16/06/2025 23:06

Both very tedious

BeautifulPeopleGo · 16/06/2025 23:05

Isla.

But both are massively popular overused. And thoroughly bored of Elsie-May/Grace/Rose and Isla-Rose/Grace/May.

Moreteaandchocolate · 16/06/2025 22:15

I like both but voted for Elsie as it’s not as popular.

girlgonenorth · 16/06/2025 21:43

I prefer Iona or Ailsa

Hedjwitch · 16/06/2025 21:41

Isla v v popular where I am.

tellmesomethingtrue · 16/06/2025 21:40

Isla is everywhere

Purplecatshopaholic · 16/06/2025 21:21

Literally anything but Elsie.

theunbreakablecleopatrajones · 16/06/2025 21:19

Neither TBH - Isla is lovely, Elsie is sweet but a wee bit twee - both so so overused.

How about Ida?

If you do go for Elsie I would make it short for Elizabeth or a nn for Elsa.

Or you could have Elizabeth nn Effie

MarxistMags · 16/06/2025 21:19

Or Iona ? Orla ?

BoleynMemories13 · 16/06/2025 21:17

I prefer Isla as a stand alone name. Popularity wise both are extremely popular these days so I really don't think there's much in it there.

Elsie is ok as a nn for Elizabeth but I find it a bit unsubstantial on it's own.