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.

Well, it's my name so I'm biased [outs self]- with the spanish spelling, ISABEL, from Measure for Measure as my mother loves Shakespeare. When I was a child back in the early 90s it was outlandishly unusual - every other girl in my class was called Sarah, Emma, Rebecca or Amy

Personally I love all the tiny Isabels that are around now! I love my name and I think it's a name that's feminine but not too girlie, if spelt ISOBEL or ISABEL. I'm usually an Isabel, but I also get called Izzy, Bella and Isbee.

Isadora sounds rather nice. I like that. I know of only one Isadora Duncan ...she was a dancer.

How about something with similar sounds but not the same name? Depending on whether its the 'isa' bit or the 'elle' bit you like best.
Gabrielle or Arabelle

Isadora

I like the name Isobel but was put off by the 'Isobel necessary on a bicycle' jokes my in-laws kept spawning out.

I have an Imogen instead.

And how is Imogen working out for you and your DD? Are there lots of others? Does she like it?

Isobel is a family name from way back for me and I was always going to use it if I had a girl. I didn't (have a girl), but find it a bit bizarre how it's suddenly so much in fashion.

You might find it's already peaked, one of my ds names is like that and for a while he was the only one in his school.

If you love it, use it. It's a gorgeous name.

Yes - it may have already peaked. If I am correct in remembering it was a Twilight name: Bella.

If your baby isn't even born yet, there will be a whole host of 'new' fashionable names for the babies yet to be born.

What about Ellie? (Elenor)

It's also versatile in an Elizabeth and Katherine sort of way. There are loads of shortened versions. Also love Imogen

She likes it, it's her school name, we use another diminuitive at home. It's a small school but there are no other Imogens, although I do know of one a couple of years younger than her (she's 8) in the next village. But it's certainly not ubiquitous.

I love it! in my group of friends I know one Isobel aged 2 in the South and another aged 4 in the North.

I think Isabel Archer (as in Portait of a Lady) was also a factor in the spelling of my name - can you tell my mother likes literature?

Also, Isabel Allende is another great literary Isabel - can you tell I like my spelling the best?

Isabel/Isobel to me is a different name from Isabelle/Isabella - in my head the first two are very Scottish, old-fashioned names (my family are Scots) and the second two are trendier and far more used down south. I am fully aware that is nonsense, that's just how I visualise the spellings!

So, I would say Isabel/Isobel is more unusual - I rarely meet people with my spelling outside of Spanish-speaking countries (or Scotland!)

Absolutely agree you should call your child Isobel if that is the name you like. I am also in Scotland and it isn't popular for young girls here, but my dd's name is very popular, and even though I had wanted her name for a girl since I was six, I hesitated to call her it for that reason.

Despite being three girls with her name at playgroup ( they were all called their nicknames, which were Bella, Bubbles, and Dot!) She is six and this year is the first she has had a girl with the same name as her in her class, and neither of the girls mind at all.

Please call her the name you want, you may choose another and it becomes popular too, so she would have a popular name you didn't love rather than one that you did.

Isobel is a lovely name.

I don't know any Isobels or Isobellas.

I know lots of Evies, Emilys, Rubys, Hollys, Amelias, Lillys & Graces.

I am in the South East (surrey). I have 4 children aged between 2-9. Between them they go to 2 schools, 1 nursery and a playgroup. I know two Isabelles aged 8 and an Isabella aged 2. I think it's a lovely name and the problem is always going to be that nice names are popular. How about Annabel-I don't know any.

2 in my daughter' s class. She is 5.

Ok Knitfast - I will consider Isabel spelling. Deffo would go for Isobel/Isabel without the frilly end. Congratulations on your name, I think it is so beautiful.

I love the name Gabriella but couldn't bear the thought of them getting Gabby or Gobby for short. Gabby where I live means chatterbox but not in a nice way .

A name I've always loved is Suzanne or Susanna. Don't know why I never named my daughter it.

Probably because my teddy was already called that ;-)

Isobel is a beautiful name, less common now than five years ago.

Imogen, not so much.

Use it! (That spelling's my fave too-classy)

Both my grans were Isabella (which i love) so my mum gave me Isabel (which i hate) as my middle name. I am in my early 50's. I just don't like it as a name for girls, either Isabel or Isobel.

rose it's a good name that has served me well The only caveat is that my life does tend to involve a lot of spelling it out to people because there are so many variations, but hey, I can live with that. People tend to gravitate towards the ISOBEL spelling so that would probably give her an easier life - I just think ISABEL looks more feminine written down somehow (again, there is no rational reason for this!)

My dd is Isabelle and is was not that popular when she was born in 2001. There are only two in her high school. It has got very popular now but so what it's a beautiful name and if you like it, use it.

I only know one! Am in the south east too. I would use it if you love it. Really, you'd be gutted if you chose something you like less and then never met an Isabel once when she was born!!