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.

What about
ELISA
Lucy
Orla
Michelle

You love it and especially as your DH agreed then go for it. In my sons class (y3) there is 1 Izzy and 1 Belle. There may be another one or two in his year 60+ kids. None in our circle though. More popular girls names include Maddy, May, Lily, Grace and variations of Elisia, Elisha, Alicia.

I have an Isobel. I always loved the name and didn't care that it might be popular. Not common down under though - not met another one yet! other names we considered were Annabel, Lucy, Niamh, Catriona, Ailsa.

We've got 4 in a reception year of 60, so not that bad. By the time your little one is at school the popularity may have wained anyway...

'Popular things are usually popular for a reason.'

I think popular things are popular because names go in cycles. Isabel/Isobel/Isabelle was in the doldrums for decades before it swung back into fashion. In a few years our children will be having babies called Keith and Sandra.

Different variations I should add! Two Isobels an Isabella and Isabelle.

If you love it you love it.

My 7 year old has two (Isabella) in his class but my 5 year old has none. I like the Isobel way of spelling, it's a bit different as most use an A.

Sophie and Emily seem to be very popular where we are (greater london).

I think the problem with Isobel type names is that they have been popular for a long time. My DD is 18 and knows quite a few. I do love it though. and I have four kids all with very popular names

I love the name Isobel.

We only know one person with the name and she is 19.

The most popular names at DS's school seem to be Emily, Ella, Emma, Amy, Hannah, various spellings of Maisy and Megan, and a whole load of Lexi/Lexie's.

As an alternative, have you considered Elspeth? I think it's beautiful, and it fits with Isobel as a similar type of name, yet it doesn't seem to have caught on in the way that the names like Isla/Orla etc did recently.

What's wrong with Isobel (although I prefer the spelling Isabelle - the fact that you can spell it more than one way could be an issue). It's a lovely name.

What about Janelle (as in Janelle Monae)

Isobel was on my original list but felt the same as you do. Also loved Iona but sounded odd with our surname. We went for Imogen in the end (she's now 8). She's the only one in her school of 200 and we only know one other Imogen (who was in part the inspiration) who is now 12.

I am a cm and currently care for 2 an Isobel and an Isabelle another baby due soon to be called Isabel! I differentiate by calling them name plus middle name which is what school does. There are 3 in my four year olds reception class. I like it though.

I met an Ishbel recently - she was in her early 20s, very pretty and confident.

There are two Isabellas in my DD's year at school (she's 5). Unfortunately their surname begins with the same initial so they are referred to by full name and surname. It's the only girls name to duplicate but there are also an Emily, Amelie, Amelia, Milly and Emmy which I think could cause more confusion. So I think unless you go for something unusual you can still get same/ similar so don't let it stop you.

Id say a third of children under 7 are Isobel versions or the eve / Amelia / Milly/ Mia names. If that's what you want, it's a very 'marks you of this time' marker name ie you'll always know their age throughout life roughly etc but so what.

Isobel, Ava, Amelie, Sophie and Evie (plus their variants) quite frequent here.

We've only come across one Isobel so far, she's 7. Loads and loads of Ella, Evie, Ava, Eva and Amelie's.
My DD has a very popular name and we did debate using it for that very reason, but there just wasn't another name we loved as much. So far (bizarrely) we haven't met any other children named it at all, plenty of adults though. I'm so glad we weren't put off using it. Go with what you love.

I think it's a lovely name in all it's variants but personally I tried to avoid very popular names for my children as I think they age badly. Jan and Barbara and Kevin and Wayne once sounded fresh and attractive but now they just tie a person to a particular generation and sound middle-aged. Nothing wrong with that per se, but I think you have to accept that today's popular names will sound to future, younger ears like the popular names of yesteryear sound to us now iyswim.

dd & ds know one Isobel in year one. school has 400+ kids. I'd use it its lovely

Isobel is pretty, I love that spelling. I have a 4 yr old and a 2 yr old so I am around a lot of young children, I can think of one Isabella of the top of my head. There have been more at Stay and Play in the past, people seem to be moving on from it.

I would say go for it if you love it, my son's both have top ten names because I love the names. They are classics, will age well and wont date. My older son shares his class with one other little boy with his name, it isn't a big deal.

If you are keen to look at other options, here are some names (sorry for any duplicates I have only skimmed the thread):
Imogen
Isla
Annabel
Iris
Mirabelle
Melissa
Violet

This site might help you make decisions based on popularity names.darkgreener.com/#isobel

If you love a name you should give it to your daughter.
Isobel is a pretty name. It can be cute on a baby and still grow with her. Its a classic. Lovely name.
Why pick an unusual name?
I know a few isobal's (and those with alternative spellings) of different ages and they're all very nice girls/ women.

isobal
Ffs.