To be really annoyed that my all time favourite girl's name is so bloody popular?

[Theicingontop]

Isobel.

Really miffed. I was convincing myself up until now that maybe it's not that popular, and besides, I'm in love with the Scottish spelling and everyone else goes for the fancy French version, so she'll be a bit different when it comes to school.

Starting to realise that if I don't want my so far imaginary daughter to be one of hundreds of Isobels I'll have to rethink it. Kind of disappointing. I've had it picked out for years.

Anyone else?

Why be annoyed?

There are hundreds of Eves and Amelias here too.

The most unusual name in ds2's class has to be Shelby! I think it's American?

It was Isobel or Elodie. And I'm starting to see more Elodies these days too so it's like they're pillaging my name stocks.

How about the Scottish Ishbel?

I don't see the problem. If you like the name, use it.

rooney there was a Shelby in Steel Magnolias IIRC.

I always liked Isabella, but realised there were a few of them around so crossed it off my list.

Now Euphemia is a wonderfully underused name, with loads on NN potential!

Elspeth is another that I like along similar lines.

Euphie
Effie
Phemie
Mia
Phia
:)

See loads of potential!

We have a Shelby in the school I work in, the name I notice we are overrun in atm is Dylan, there are many many Dylans.

Use it. I nearly named dd Sophia as I liked Sophie but it was too popular. When at tots singing with ds1 there were two newborn Sophias whose parents glared daggers at each other the whole time.

I went back to Sophie and even though it is very popular here in four years I have only known 3 others.

Remember; everyone else is only copying. You have the real one

Is dylan the new naughty boy name? It was Darren when I was at school.

yanbu I had no idea how popular my dds name was and she was named after a favourite great aunt.

I do however feel I have let her down though by giving her such a popular name, she knows at least 4 other girls with the name at her school

My name is very popular now but growing up I never met another girl with my name. Sorry frustrating not to say actual names!!

Yep, loads of Isobels in Surrey. One Ishbel at dd1's school and I think that's lovely and far less commonly used.

I called my DD the name that I had chosen as a schoolgirl as my fave name only to discover that it was the most popular name that year.

There were literally thousands of them at her school* and she was known by her much-hated middle name as the teachers had several in the class with the same last initial. If only I' d had MN to check these things out ...

• May contain exaggeration

Loads of Isobel's here too. One in DS1's class, one in nursery at the same school and one girl I used to go to school with's daughter too.

i wouldn't let it put you off
you might never meet another
dd2 has a name outside of the top 100, and we know four others locally
dd1 has a top 20 name, and we know no others.

Gorgeous name though. I would still use it.

Awwww I love the name Isobel! Was the name I was going to give DC2 had he not been a DS

It's popularity doesnt bother me at all. DD has a popular name. I think it's one of the top 5 but oddly enough she is the only one of them in the infants (I don't know about the juniors though).

I don't think it's a name that dates either. I have at least 3 Isobels/Isabellas/Isabels in my family who are several generations older than me (26).

I have an Isobel. The only one in her class, was the only one infants and still the only in juniors, though there is an Isabel two years ahead of her, so not popular at all round here in the south west.

Maybe you could move OP? [bsmile]

I have a Dylan and believe me 12 years ago when I was pregnant with him there wasn't another Dylan in sight......things change.

My Dylan was named after Bob....I'm sure he was conceived after DH and I left a Bob Dylan concert early because we couldn't hear him.....we went and got drunk in the hotel bar and hey presto 9 months later.......

before kids I thought if I ever had a boy Id call him Joshua. this was back in the 90's. suddenly EVERYONE was having a Joshua. put me right off.

Got a girl tho, and so managed to avoid the Joshua.