Struggling with the name DP wants, but I can't think of alternatives

[WishingWellsandCountryCottages]

Hi Ladies,
I'm 36+4 with my first baby, who I know is going to be a girl. I'm in the lucky position that everyone around me having baby's is having/has had boys so I basically can pick any name I want without upsetting anyone, I am also the only female in my generation of the family. My problem with names is I was bullied at school from age 7 right up to 16 so a lot of the names we came up with have negative connotations for me.

DP and I have been discussing names since finding out the gender at 21weeks. DP has had his heart set on calling Isobel, we're not scottish and live no where near scotland, but DP loves the name and has done since he read it in a book aged 18. I'm not so sure though, but can't come up with any alternatives I like. I've never met anyone with the name Isabelle/Isobel or any other spelling of the name, so from that point of view it's a good choice considering it's supposedly common.

I also want to use Marie for a middle name, and DP thinks this works. The middle name is non-negotiable because it was my grandmothers first name, she died in 2011.

What are peoples thoughts? Should I just let DP use the name and get used to it as she grows up? Any other suggestions for name?

I think if you don't like it, you don't have to use it. Are there any other names on the table? Family names from your dps side, maybe?

Isobel is the trad Scottish spelling. Recently, French/Italian verions such as Isabelle/Isabella have become popular.

It is a pretty name but, as you say, quite popular.

I think that Isobel is fine, but if you don't like it, then there are an enormous number of related names - see www.behindthename.com/name/isobel What about one of those? Liliana is nice, so is Elisabeth...

Marie is a smashing middle name, and goes with almost anything. And it's lovely to remember a past family member.

Isabelle is really lovely.

Isobel (that spelling) is one of my favourite names in the world.

I don't care if it's popular. It s elegant, regal, beautiful, strong but also feminine and pretty.

I am not Scottish.

Isobel/Isabelle is a lovely name. I think that if he really loves it and wants it, and you dont have an alternative then you should go with it, as you don't dislike it. Especially as you have chosen the middle name. If you had another name in mind, it would be different.

How about Ishbel or Elspeth?

I love the name Isobel (and like that spelling best too).

If you're not keen don't feel obliged to use it though. If it means a lot to your DH maybe you could consider using 2 mns Isobel and Marie?

What other names do you like?? Does your dp have any other names he

Isabelle-Marie.

I do like Isobel but it's quite common around here. How about Imogen?

Hi everyone,
Sorry I if I don't reply individually.

As some people have pointed out I don't have a specific problem with the name Isobel, I just don't love it in the way DP does.

I like Olivia which is also common, but that's DP's cousins name and as she's only a year old we're likely to spend a fair amount of time with her, so to avoid confusion we won't use it. I seem to lean towards classic names but to give an idea of names that we won't use:

Rebecca (or any variation of that as she was the ring leader)
Charlotte (Although it's lovely, my cousin had this name, she died end of last year and we think its too soon to use it)
Hannah (There's hundreds of these where we live)

DP's family is made up of a mixture of classic and traditional names but there's no-one in particular he wants to remember or who's name we want to use to make us a name for our daughter.

Annabel
Isla
Alisha
Lisa
Sarah
Rachel
Sophie
Katie

Elizabeth is lovely

We were in the same boat. DP had, years before we were expecting, suggested a name for a future DD and it kind of stuck. I quite liked the long name, but never really imagined using the common short version, even though I knew that was what we could use (imagine Catherine and Katie, for example). I didn't have my own girl's name I was really struck on so couldn't come up with any winning alternatives. I don't think I really tried.

In all honesty, there are times when I think 'Katie' isn't really a name I love. But it suits DD perfectly. And it is her name, not one that came with any baggage i.e. I hadn't spent years imagining what my 'Rebecca' would be like, iyswim.

And I like it. I really do. It's like someone presented me with this lovely little person who was already a person because she had her own name.

I'm not sure if that makes any sense But I don't think you have to be madly in love with a name beforehand.

And Isobel is a gorgeous name.

Isobel Marie is lovely.

Love the name Isobel

Our Dd(12) is an Isobelle though-dh wanted to go with the French spelling

Eleanor
Abigail
Imogen
Harriet
Amelia (although very popular)
Alexandra (Lexi for short)
Freya
Lydia
Alice
Sophie

Isobel is lovely though

Isobel Marie.
Its good. Don't change it.

Isobel is lovely but if you don't like it I'd say that to your DP.

How about:

Emily
Harriet
Imogen
Lila
Grace
Catherine

Henrietta
Esther
Miriam
Sophia

Those are some of my favourites.

And I've just suggested on another thread what I think are 'fabulous' names- Gloriana, Astrid, Arianwen.

Congratulations on your baby!

I am Scottish and my middle name is Isabel. This is the way i know it to by spelled by many Scottish people.

Isobel Marie is a lovely combination. As it's not that you dislike it, you just don't get the tingles for it, but don't have others you prefer, I would go with it. You and your DP then each have one name that's meaningful to you.

I love Isobel Marie! You don't have to be Scottish to use it! Also has loads of shortened forms as alternatives:

Izzy
Iz
Iza [?]
Bella
Belle

or use Marie instead [my Mum and Nana both were always known by their middle names all their lives]

Still, you both have to like it enough to want it!

Agree that Isobel Marie is a gorgeous name! And since you don't seem to have anything you love yourself and your DP likes it so much, why not go for it?