Double barrel first name....or not??

[fixuplooksharp]

me again, still having the Isla/Ayla debate with ourselves, don't worry I am due in two weeks so won't pain you with this for much longer :)
Love both names, I realise Isla is extremely popular in general at the moment but to be honest in the area I live in, not hugely, which is good.
I have recently started wondering whether to have a double barrel first name, and don't want all the family knowing the name before the baby is here so thought I'd test it on you honest bunch...
Isla-Rose
Ayla-Rose
Thoughts on either would be great, or on double barrelled names in general as it's not something I had considered before. Both our boys just have one first name and no middle name, so we can't really go down the middle name route with this one.
Sorry to go on...I'll leave it with you :)

[Wearyheadedlady]

I have a double barreled first name and so did my best friend at school when we were in primary. We both are now in our early 40s and still go by both names (and are still friends, believe it or not).

But I have to tell you its a nightmare. I like having the two names, just the one is boring and quite a common name. But getting people to say both has been a life-long negotiation. Seriously.

I think the new trend for combining names is slightly different and clearly a fad. I wouldn't dip my toe into that with my kids.

And for the record, I love the name Isla. Its starting a minor revival.

[sepa]

I love the name Isla and if it wasn't for a close family friend having the name then it would be on our list. I think you should go with it. My name is so common that we have 3 in my extended family (one even with the same middle name) i don't think it detracts from the name unless they would end up having the same first name and surname as someone else you know (which is what will happen to me if I marry DP)

[HeadDreamer]

fixuplooksharp answering to whether 'Isla Rose' (not hypenated) will get used together. It depends on if you call her both! DH has two short names and if written down the middle name, people always assume he wants to be called both. (Like if you see a name like Lily Mae). He takes pain never to put his middle name down unless he has to because he hates hypenated names.

So the answer to it is that if you like both names together, definitely use Rose as the middle name. Then she has a choice to use it or not as her first name later in life.

HTH

[kittylh]

Libaries - yep, lots of 'cute' names about.

We've actually just had an Isla Rose born into the family.

[liftthatup]

I have an 8 year old Isla Jane, known as Isla. In all these years we have never encountered another Isla- most people assume she's named after my mum who is Ailsa. We are in NI but I love Scottish names

[elQuintoConyo]

I was joking, Soup sorry. I just hear 'goodnight' at the Waltons' house when I hear double-barrelled names.

Fwiw my middle name is hilariously 70s, think 'Luton Airport' I hide it from my peers well!

[SoupDragon]

I don't drive a flat bed truck or wear double denim.

[fixuplooksharp]

Haha elQuinto no flatbed trucks or double denim here :) Point taken.

[elQuintoConyo]

If you drive a flatbed truck and wear double denim, I'd say go for it!

[LibrariesGaveUsP0wer]

Sorry, that should say that article is spot on.

[LibrariesGaveUsP0wer]

Kitty - I agree Brit names are awfully cute and frilly at the moment. .That post is spot on. Someone will come on asking for views on Helen or Frances and the very first thing they are told is that it's harsh and they should soften it to Helena or Francesca. Vowels and vowel sounds everywhere. poor old consonants.

[LibrariesGaveUsP0wer]

Isla is lovely.

Isla - Rose is bunging together two extremely popular names and, since you are only doing it because Isla is popular, that seems counter productive.

Plus, although Isla -Rose may feel less common, all those -Rose and -May names sort of merge to one big mass of 'almost the same'.

I really love Rose. But if you want it, have it as an actual middle name. No law saying all your kids have to have the same number of names.

[Piratespoo]

I know two sisters called Isla and Ayla and the mum is Aysha!

[annab1980]

While they are at school it won't be great in terms of bullying but later in life research shows the posher you sound the better job you'll get.

I'd say go for it.

It will be character building at school and later in life they will fund your retirement hehe

[fixuplooksharp]

Thanks cats that does give it a bit more perspective.
kitty thanks for that, I just read it and it does actually help a bit.
I need to chat to DH about it again really, but I'm fairly sure he doesn't see the big deal in choosing between a couple of names we both like anyway, he's so laid back!

[kittylh]

I have literally just read this article about hyphens and Rose, if it helps your decision any... www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/11817602/The-latest-must-have-baby-accessory-a-hyphen.html

[Catsgowoof]

There were about 4,000 Islas in 2014 out of a total of around 700,000 babies born, so some very rough maths says that around 1 in 100 girls were called Isla. So even though it's one of the most popular names it's still not that common.

[fixuplooksharp]

lunasonny good name choice :) Do you use the whole name then, even though it's not hyphenated, and do other people use the whole name?

[pickleandspud]

What about ailsa? A mixture of both.
But my daughter is HollyMay and I love it

[LunaSonny]

I have an Isla Rose (non hyphenated) Its a beautiful enough name on its own. Havent met another one yet! If you love it, go for it.

[ClaireFraser]

Why not just use Rose as a middle name instead of a hyphenated first name? ie. Isla Rose Smith, that way you get the beautiful name you love, but not the potential confusion of a hyphenated. DD1 is Felicity and Isla was one of the contenders, I think if we have DD2 she will be Isla

[DefinitelyNotElsa]

I like Ayla - the meaning in Turkish is very cute.

[fixuplooksharp]

Thanks all!!
I appreciate abit of honesty, it makes it clearer :) One name it is, and I'm perfectly happy with that. And popular or not, I think I'm sticking to my guns with Isla, it has been a name I love for so long I will end up regretting it if I don't use it.

[PuckyMup]

Ayla Rose is a lingerie shop ..

[HeartsTrumpDiamonds]

Just to confirm your decision OP

MIL has a double barrelled first name and she HATES it. Why she never just dropped or stopped using the second part is beyond me but man does she moan about it.

And then my mum. She originally had "2 first names" as well but at age 16 she merged them into one. Think "Carol" and "Lynn" becoming "Carolyn" IYSWIM.