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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Isla Penelope? Opinions wanted pretty please...

37 replies

Lozzabell · 17/01/2014 10:44

So I'm pregnant with my first...
We don't know what it's going to be but are pretty decided on the name Max if it's a boy, and Isla if it's a girl.

I really like Penelope as a middle name for Isla...

I'd love to hear people's thoughts/opinions/suggestions on this as it's obviously quite unusual...

OP posts:
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kiwikaterpillar · 19/01/2014 21:52

I think it sounds beautiful but agree that Isla is very popular atm.
We named our DD Iya Elizabeth (and everyone at first calls her Isla by mistake!)

Lozzabell · 19/01/2014 23:07

Perhaps Ava rather than Isla...

OP posts:
Viviennemary · 19/01/2014 23:11

I think both names are OK but they don't really sound well together.

Spychic · 20/01/2014 01:45

Ava is very popular as well. However, my son had a popular name and I don't care, if you love a name use it! For what it's worth I think the names work equally well both ways round. I prefer Penelope but she's your daughter not mine Smile

Algorithm · 20/01/2014 10:31

Think they sound lovely together but I think Penelope Isla would be better as she won't be stuck with a name that could be common for her age bracket in the future and Isla hasn't really got the greatest NN potential (I am a great believer of good NN potential due to having a name with one NN that in reality just chops off the latter half of my name Hmm) whereas Penelope has Nellie, Penny etc.,

TunipTheUnconquerable · 20/01/2014 10:34

Beautiful names, but a few years ago 4 of my friends had daughters and 3 of them were called Isla!

My dd has Penelope as a middle name so obviously I love it.

Lozzabell · 20/01/2014 23:20

Thank you all so much for your advice/opinion. It's really helped and changed my mind massively!
What I stupidly didn't think of, is that (obviously) just because I don't know any Islas etc doesn't mean it's not popular for the new generation.
I spoke to a nursery teacher yesterday who also told me she had 4 Islas at her nursery!
So... I've since found a name I really like - and from what I know it's not very common :|

It's Aela - pronounced Ale-a (not eye-la)
A Celtic name.

So I'm now thinking Aela Penelope...

OP posts:
BunnyLebowski · 20/01/2014 23:32

Hmmm. In my opinion Aela still sounds very similar to Isla and might be confused with it and mispronounced.

Do you like names beginning with vowels? Some might be a bit too Irish/Scottish.

Ailbhe (Ale-va)
Eilish (Ai-lish)
Eilidh
Ailsa
Elsa
Iona

Any good?

Lozzabell · 21/01/2014 18:37

Hmmm yes they are almost the same... but I'm still drawn to it.
Other possibilities are:

Molly (DH grandmothers name)
Emmie/Emmy (my great gran name)

OP posts:
Lozzabell · 21/01/2014 20:38

After much deliberation - I 'think' we may have decided on Emmeline Penelope. Emmy/Emmie as nn.
Love the grandma and Pankhurst connection too.
Everyone's help has been invaluable. Grin
After all this I'll probably end up having a boy haha

OP posts:
BunnyLebowski · 21/01/2014 20:40

Emmeline/Emmie is absolutely gorgeous!

JessicaD21 · 21/01/2014 21:06

I really like it is a pretty name and penelope is a nice middle name for it, congratulations on your pregnancy :) x

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