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.

It's a beautiful name, but it wouldn't use it purely because there are so many versions of it at the school I work in. They all sound the same, even if there is one letter difference, including when there's an a at the end.

I'm forever having to ask children which version is theirs, because I genuinely get confused, and I really do try not to.

Iona is nice Madrigals!

There are 2 in my dad's class.

But, tbh, I don't think it really matters - ds's best friend has the same name as her and they are in the same class, every one calls them xxxx L and xxxx F. The 2 girls called Isabel are Izzy and Iz.

When we named dd2 we didn't know anyone else with her name, then we moved and there were 4 at her playgroup - you can't guarantee that your child is going to be the only one with her name, if it is a name you love, the go for it.

Not to be rude or owt- but I really don't get this need to have your children have a 'different' name. Name them something you like, not something because it's will make them more memorable.

I have an Isabel . To me, Isabel/Isobel is the only way to spell it.

There are a couple in her school, but none in her class. I haven't met very many either. A regional thing maybe?

If you like it, go for it!

use it, prefer your spelling

my dc's 12 yo friends are Emilys, Amelias, Sophies, Isabels, Evies.

I don't think these names are being used as much any more. No idea what the top five names are for babies now. But I reckon she could be the only Isobel in her class.

We had it on our list. Along with Imogen and Elizabeth.

In the end we went for something completely different and nowhere near as popular.

I agree that Isabelle, Isabel, Isobel, Isabella et al are essentially one and the same name. So whilst the spelling may be different the pronunciation is much the same meaning the name is even more used than the stat's suggest.

I know a few little Isabelle's. Still think its a lovely name though but not for us.

I love Isabel and don't know any. I have an Imogen and I know a few now, which is a smidge irritating as I when I chose it I knew none. In fact a 'friend' posted on Facebook just after she was born to say that she knew four little Imogens now. Gee thanks. I also know an Isidora and an Isabelle but respective parents are pretentious and French in that order. My son is called by his nickname, which happens to also be the name of the child at the end of Fifty Shades. I was raging. Mind you it's also quite popular in Essex, and there are three in his school already!

Actually, DD is an Isabel. For months when I was pregnant I went backwards and forwards asking the same question you've posed, and also posting on Mumsnet to gauge its popularity, especially because my own name was very (very) popular when I was born. A friend of mine whose DS is called Oliver pointed out that almost every single male baby she knew was also called Oliver, but that her Oliver was the only one who counted for her and that was all that mattered. And it's true. DD is the only Izzy that matters for me (with the greatest of respect to all the other children called Izzy.) I used to make DH sit down for ages with lists of alternative girl names but we couldn't find one we liked as much that we both agreed on. Now I'm glad we went with it - I would have been jealous if we have met other little girls with the name and I'd have chosen something I liked less. It's true that we have bumped into some others at baby groups but not as many as I've feared. And it really doesn't bother me anywhere near as much as I thought it would.

YANBU

It's a lovely name please use it.

I don't get the hysteria over using popular names either Jackie.

Isobel is the nicest spelling I think. My gm (Scottish) was Isobel, spelled this way. Isabelle is the French version I think.

The popularity would put me off a bit but, actually, even the most popular names aren't actually that ubiquitous when you think about it. There isn't an Isobel in dd's class. I know 2 outside her class, both aged 3.

Imogen is pretty too, though a bit posh. Md dm wanted to call me this, and I'm kind of glad she didn't as I went to a bit of a rough school, but I think dd could have pulled it off in leafy North London where anything goes!

There are four in dd's two form year (with different spellings). Definitely the most popular name. There aren't four of any other name. But who cares, if you like it I wouldn't be worried. The teachers just call them Isobel B and Isabelle C etc.

I chose what you would think to be a very common name but there's only one in dd's year. Just luck of the draw really.

I know a few, but if we judge from the school newsletter half the girls in my boy's school are a spelling variant of "Ellie-May". We're in the west midlands.

I know one who is 7.

And my granny.

Gizelle
Marelle
Mireille
Marella
Meryl

I know a couple of Isabelle's. I went to school with one Isobel, so to me it's the default spelling.

I love it. I think we can all get too wrapped up in trying to be incredibly clever and unique, and sometimes forget just to go with what we actually like.

I went for Anna for dd, thinking it'd be really popular but loving it anyway, and actually we barely meet any others, whereas names I thought were more unusual (Sophia, Mia, Esme) there are loads of. Turns out that I was very out of touch with children's names - the most popular vary quite a lot just a few years on. I discounted Jack as a boy's name as too popular but haven't met a single one since dd was born (she is 3). Parents who went out of their way to choose an unusual name tend to get more annoyed if there is another in the class ime.

Random ' added there. Damn you autocorrect.

In Ds's class there is an Isabelle, Isobel and an Isabella but he's 5 so it seems he was born in peak Isabelle times!

Fwiw I've never taught an Isabelle/ Isobel.

Go with what you like though, ds's name is the most common boys name for the year he was born and he's the only one in his class.

Just read a bit more of the thread.

I'm also in the SE - work at a large nursery school (200+ children) and DD is still at primary.

Off the top of my head I can't recall her mentioning any Isobel's in her age group (although NDN's grand daughter is one). At nursery we usually have a couple with us at any one time, usually spelt differently, and certainly not enough to make me think 'oh, here comes yet another one' (which tbh does happen with some names!)

Just looked out of curiosity and my DD's name hasn't been out of the top 10 since she was born, adding more weight to the 'go for it' argument .

In the course of my hobby/part time job I deal with about two hundred children a week mostly 5 to 10.
The 'peak Isobel' age group are about 11 and 12 now.Loads and loads of Evies/Evas and |Avas at the moment