Isambard

[PetalMettle]

Too out there? I'm amazed it's not even on the lists e.g. Fewer than 3 people use it

[LauraMipsum]

I love it so much that the near-universal derision here wouldn't stop me if I had a boy!

[SpecialFlowSnake]

Love love love it!
Obviously, Bard would be the nickname.

Brunel could be good too but might be too close to Bruno. Do not like the nickname Nel as it is too easy to turn into Nelly.

[F1GI]

It's a nice enough sounding name but I would think the parents had their heads extremely far up their own arses. I mean would you call your kid Einstein? Most people are just regular people in need of a regular name.

[Underbeneathsies]

You could call him Thomas for a NN? Or Clarissa if he was so inclined....

[2014newme]

How is Thomas a nickname for Islamabad

[LauraMipsum]

I mean would you call your kid Einstein? Most people are just regular people in need of a regular name.

Like Albert?

[RedSauce]

I think it's cool!

I wouldn't know whether it's pronounced Iz-ambard or Eye-sambard though.

[228agreenend]

Love it.

[Stokey]

This was on our shortlist. Two dds later, it's never going to get used. But 'Bard for a nn for sure.

[Sukitakeitoff]

I quite like it although it might seem a lot to live up to - would an under-achieving Isambard be OK?!

I do know a boy with the nickname Izzy (although short for something else).

[PetalMettle]

Yeah I thought about the under achieving thing. I was always bottom of the DT class which would be unforch.

[NuffSaidSam]

You can't have Isambard if you've already got a Stan. It's too showy in comparison to plain and simple 'Stan'.

[GladAllOver]

How is Thomas a nickname for Islamabad

I bet you wish there was an edit function, 2014newme :)

[beanfilledfish]

people on mn are just bonkers

[EffieIsATrinket]

Makes me think of Islamabad. Which may or may not be a good thing depending on your PoV.

[HelenDenver]

Hank, Alphonso, Manfred?

They are all soooo fiffferent!

[wooster16]

You're taking the hobbits to isengard!

It's a no from me.

[LouKout]

Cringingly pretentious

[Coulibri]

I kind of love it. You could call him Iz or Izzy for short. Though people might expect a lot every time toddler Izzy got out his LEGO.

For what it's worth, my son's name is now so uncommon in this country there were also fewer than three in his year of birth.

[margewiththebluehair]

It is unique and wonderful - go for it. You don't need anyone's approval at all.

[MiddlingMum]

I'm speaking as someone who was in the huge crowd when IKB's SS Great Britain was taken home to Bristol in 1970 and pulled by tug under IKB's Suspension Bridge - an historic moment.

I like the name, but I wouldn't give it to a child nowadays. They'd never be free of the IKB references.

[Bombaybunty]

I thought that was Islamabad! Really should wear my glasses.

I think it's a great name!

[marmitecheesetoast]

It is quite out there but I think most people know the name. I like it!

[gezabella]

One of my brothers is called Isambard! He gets called Bard mostly. All of us siblings have quite unusual names though, and I'm not sure I'd go for something as unusual myself... that said I don't think it's done him any harm in life - maybe even a bit of a help as he's a journalist so at least it's distinctive. Not sure if it has influenced his character but he's a pretty cool guy (IMO!)

[gezabella]

p.s. we all pronounce it Iz-ambard - had no idea that wasn't the original pronunciation!