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Original poster

Gutted. Tell me I'm overreacting!

88 replies

Queenside · 22/05/2013 06:29

We named our DD Isla (1yr) and now although I've only met one other Isla I am frequently told 'oh I know an Isla'.

I really didn't want her to have a name like Oscar or Alfie that becomes incredibly popular for 5/10 years to the extent that it almost ruins the name.

Am I being ridiculous? Is it really, REALLY popular?! I'm fine with it being a name that's heard of and not really unusual but not crazily popular. I'm feeling at the moment like I actually really regret giving her the name. Is it so bad??

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MadBusLady · 22/05/2013 08:25

The stats show it's very popular. I've got the 2011 England & Wales spreadsheet open here and it's number 15.

BUT, then think about how many little girls that actually translates to. Apparently it was 2,849. Even if that number are called Isla every year for five years it's still less than 15,000. Not many, really, across a country of 60 million with however many hundreds of thousands of schools/nurseries/brownie groups etc it has.

Those 2,849 won't be evenly distributed either. Some people here don't know any Islas. Round where I lived last in London every 5/6+ year old seemed to be called Amelie/a or Olivia, and their baby sisters all seemed to be called Mia or Isla. In the area of London we've moved to I've not heard any of those names once.

But they're all lovely, lovely names.

NeoMaxiZoomDweebie · 22/05/2013 08:27

I agree that its an alterantive kind of popular...like Willow or Lola. There are some but not loads like Olivia.

Moxiegirl · 22/05/2013 08:28

I have an Isla, it's a great name Grin
I also have a 16yo Freya, which was an uncommon name when I had her, there's lots of them now.

Khaleese · 22/05/2013 08:33

I know two isla's. We also have three isla bikes Grin

AngryGnome · 22/05/2013 08:37

It is popular, - not as popular as some (i know 5 Evie's, all born in the last 3 years).

But does it really matter? I have an unusual name - only met one other person with my name in 35 years, but I can't honestly say that my life would have turned out differently if I had been called Michelle or Sophie (which were the v popular names when I was in school - there were 4 michelle's and 2 sophie's in my primary school class!)

A child's uniqueness lies in themselves, not their name.

MadBusLady · 22/05/2013 08:39

Honeydragon my name (or at least my spelling of it) was totally unheard of in the 1980s and is starting to crop up on these boards now. I am looking forward to being vair on-trend in a few years.

MortifiedAdams · 22/05/2013 08:43

Its totally subjective though. Someone on here once said if you were going to name a boy Jack, you might as well just name him Boy, it was that common. I know one. And I.know a fair few kids.

I know of no Islas, and even if I did would still think it is a lovely name.

I have a name that was given to nearly every other girl.born in the eighties - it has had no bearing on my life. It is just a name.

CaptainJamesTKirk · 22/05/2013 08:45

I know of 2 Islas born in the last year. It is currently quite popular, but it's a nice name. I have a popular name, it's never given me any issues (even when there were 3 of us in my class at school). Really don't worry about it, it's a lovely name.

PrincessOfChina · 22/05/2013 08:48

I think it really does vary by region. I know of no Isla's around here (Birmingham) but 6 belonging to friends in various parts of the north. Ditto I know of no Ava's here and very few Evie's.

There's no denying Isla is very popular so as others say, you should have checked the lists if you wanted something unusual.

onedogandababy · 22/05/2013 08:49

Yep quite popular round my way, I know of 5, all aged 1 and under. Still a lovely name though & realistically, would you have chosen a name for your dd that you didn't love, just because it was less popular??

legallyblond · 22/05/2013 08:54

To be honest... Yes, its very popular - I know 3 under 2 and a 6 year old.

but... So?!?! I just don't get the not wanting a popular name thing.

plus, given the breadth of names that people use now compared to 30 years ago, i think you are very unlikely to have, say, 4 of anything in a class (like there were with, in my day, Rachels).

Patchouli · 22/05/2013 09:00

Ooops. You're gong to feel surrounded by Islas now!

Someone on here did a good comparison recently:
it's like now that I've got a silver Fiat I'm seeing silver Fiats all the time.

(lets just hope she doesn't marry someone called Mann or White)

farmersdaughter · 22/05/2013 09:15

I agree with Mortified it is totally subjective.

Sophie, Jack and Olivia are popular however I only know 1 of each under 4.

Try not to over think it and just enjoy your daughter. Lovely name too.

poppydaisy · 22/05/2013 10:23

Assuming you want an honest answer, then yes Isla is very popular. We know quite a few under age ten. And yes, I understand your frustration and yes, she may well have to add her surname initial to her name, but I don't think it has 'ruined' the name. Does she have a middle name that is less widely used?

poppydaisy · 22/05/2013 10:26

"I just don't get the not wanting a popular name thing."

If a name is very widely used it loses its ability to identify a person and the names need a modifier (e.g. surname initial or some adjective). We sometimes forget why we name someone/something. Depending on which field you end up working, having a name that identifies you (e.g on the internet etc) can be very helpful.

badtime · 22/05/2013 10:36

Isla is very popular in some areas. It was the 15th most popular girls' name in England and Wales in 2011.

However, these things are regional, and you may not meet many others (for example, I only know one baby Olivia).

You should also bear in mind that there is no sure way to avoid using a popular name. Names can shoot up in popularity shortly after you name your baby, or you can have names which are popular in a particular area even if they are not generally popular (like when in my primary school class in the '80s there were three girls called Barbara!)

If you stll like the name, stop worrying about it.

Thisvehicleisreversing · 22/05/2013 10:41

I know how you feel.
12 years ago when pg with DS1 his name was almost unheard of, now it's really popular and a bit 'chavvy'

I love the name Isla though. It was on my list for 2nd baby but he was a boy. I haven't heard of any round here though so perhaps not too popular yet. :)

Exhaustipated · 22/05/2013 13:40

Fwiw I have a toddler and a baby, go to loads of groups, meet hundreds of

Exhaustipated · 22/05/2013 13:41

Oops!

...babies, and have never met an Isla!

Original poster
Queenside · 22/05/2013 14:17

Ok for one I didn't mean 'common' in a derogatory way so chill out.

I didn't want an unusual name that would make life difficult for her, just not one that 5 of her friends would be called!

I checked lists and it was in the top 50 on the list I saw.

Mango biscuit you are right!

OP posts:
poppydaisy · 22/05/2013 15:49

Does she have a middle name that you could use instead?

seeker · 22/05/2013 15:54

"If a name is very widely used it loses its ability to identify a person and the names need a modifier (e.g. surname initial or some adjective). We sometimes forget why we name someone/something. Depending on which field you end up working, having a name that identifies you (e.g on the internet etc) can be very helpful."

This is such a modern idea- 20/30 years ago nobody thought like this at all.

shoobidoo · 22/05/2013 15:57

I know two Islas so yes, it seems fairly popular.

CoolStoryBro · 22/05/2013 16:02

I know one. She's 5.

Dd has a name that was very rare when we named her it. Now, it is constantly derided on here for being too popular. I don't care. It suits her!

sleepingbeautiful · 22/05/2013 16:31

"Gutted" is over reacting, especially as the name was on the popular lists. But I do understand feeling disappointed that you didn't realise, and understand not wanting your child to be known as "Isla initial". I picked Cara not realising how popular it was getting, and am also disappointed there is a good chance DD will go through school as "Cara initial". It's hardly the end of the world though is it. Maybe it will encourage our daughters to try harder at things and stand out that way.