To name my daughter Isobel?

[rosepetalsoup]

Ok, I have done some soul searching and realised that I have got out of touch with what names I actually like through trying to find one that's 'different'. If I am honest one of my favourite names has always been Isobel.

I understand that it is very popular, but just wanted to ask those of you with children in the 0-7 category how many you actually meet through school and so on.

Thanks.

If it is one of your favourite names, why NOT call her Isobel? I thought you were considering something like Desiderata or Regina Philanges or something.

I'm a CM and nearly all the young girls I come across are called Isobel, Bella, Ella, Issy, Belle.
Well, nearly all is a bit of an exaggeration but there are a hell of a lot of them

It's nowhere near as ubiquitous as Isabelle imo and ime. I know hardly any with the Isobel spelling.

I much prefer it to all the other versions. If you love it then use it!

There are dozens at DD's school. But if you like it, go for it.

I only know 1 Isobel. She's my granny, so not in your 0-7 category by a couple of years

Yes there are lots of Isobel/Isobellas, and as many Evies.

But it's a gorgeous name so if you love it, go for it.

Gah! Childminder and mums-with-lots-of-Isobels: are there any other names a bit like this that you've heard while going about your business that you think I might like? I am stuck and miserable, worried I'm going to accidentally call bump something absurd so as to get an unusual name.

There are three (various spellings: Isabel, Isabelle, Isabella) at my daughter's small preschool. It's tricky when they attend the same session

I must admit, for me personally, it's just one of those names that's so ubiquitous it might as well be "Girl" (see also: Amelia, Emily, Ruby, Lily). All popular for a good reason, because they're perfectly nice names, but sort of ruined through overuse.

Sorry

I'm in Scotland and don't know any Isobel's under 40. Isobel's the Scots spelling and it's a bit of a middle aged name her. Didn't know it was so popular elsewhere. It's a nice name though.

I haven't met one in Australia, so obviously worth moving here.

Why not? :o

I like it. I only know of one, and she gets called Izzy. If you like it, go for it.

Yes seaoflove I know - I kind of feel like that too but am finding it hard to choose another.

I am in the South East. Is that where all the Isobel's are based (fwiw I haven't met any child ones myself).

It is common atm along with all the Eve/Eva/Ava/Evie/Evelyn names, as are Isabella, Ella and Bella.

It's entirely up to you. If you don't mind her possibly sharing her name with a couple others in her class at school then go for it. It's a lot better than having a made up yoo-nique name that nobody knows how to spell or pronounce and that would probably embarrass her as an adult. I think fitting in is important to children as well.

When I was a child Sarah, Emma, Rebecca and Jessica were probably the most popular girls names. I hardly hear any babies called those names nowadays. Fashions change, in ten or so years it'll be something else.

There's a few near me (Essex) but it's not overused I wouldn't say, less than one per year group (small one class school).

I know of 2, although they are Isabel and Isabelle, from across my 3 dds classes / rainbows / brownies / pre school etc.

It isn't as ubiquitous as Ella, Lily or Ruby around here. Perhaps it varies a bit regionally.

Use the name you like. Dd1 has a "popular" name and is still the only one in her class. There was another in her year, but they moved away.

Dd2 has a less popular name, wasn't even top 100, but there are 2 others in the school. In a way the duplication is more obvious, because it is an "unusual" name iykwim?

I thought that Mousefinkle and then thought I'd be clever by choosing Jessica now (which I loved when we were at school). But it turns out that's like 5th most popular or something and a couple of my friends have just called their babies that... argh!

IME Daisy and Grace are also very very popular.

Do you like Isadora? Imogen?

My grandmothers name was Isabella. I think it's a lovely name. Not quite so keen on the Isobel spelling. Ysabel anyone lol?

Arrabella?

And choose a name because you like it and not because it's "unusual". How about the father's opinion (if it applies)

Why not use proper spelling though? If you still prefer it written this way you might as well use it instead of anything weird and "different". I hate it when people give their children diminutives of names and then you see an angry teenager called ..."Alfie" which of course doesn't suit them. Why don't they give a proper name and let the child later decide if they want to go along with another version of their name in public places where they can get humiliated and bullied?

Yes sorry I am including DH's opinion in what I've written. We both like Imogen too, and Ingrid (a bit).

Isobel is the proper spelling? All the older Isobel's I know spell it like that (academic / musician)? Isabella is a Spanish name.

I think it's far less frequently used than in the period roughly 05-10.

And Sophie (+ variants) and Eve (+ variants) are much more frequent in the younger end of the under 7s.

Yes - all my friends and colleagues have a baby Eve/a/ie!