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Original poster

Unfortunate name choice.

49 replies

Inneedofacookeddinner · 08/10/2017 12:57

So a friend of mine just shared a lovely picture of her and her niece on social media and her nieces name is Isis. I didn't know this was her name and I was momentarily taken aback. I know this has long been a name and the little girl is about 7. My question is-would you have changed it if you were her mother? Such a shame that a once lovely name has been ruined by something so horrible.

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hunnywunny · 08/10/2017 13:30

if it were my name, i would change it to Iris

Kraggle · 08/10/2017 13:32

No I wouldn't change my 7 year olds name. Little bit unfortunate though.

stopbeingadramallama · 08/10/2017 14:18

If she was a baby then yes I would change it, but she's 7, it's just unfortunate.

manicinsomniac · 08/10/2017 14:20

No, I wouldn't change it.

It's a lovely name and I don't think I would associate it so strongly with so called Islamic state if I new an individual with the name - it would become their name rather than something negative.

Not that I'd use it for a child born now.
Ira is also a name, isn't it. I wonder if it's another one people avoid.

Chaffinch4 · 08/10/2017 14:57

It's a very pretty name. A shame it has negative connotations now, but as pp said, if I knew a girl called Isis, I would associate it with her. I wouldn't change a 7 year olds name. How could you, unless the 7 year old wanted to, I suppose.

PuppyMonkey · 08/10/2017 14:59

They could change it to Ira Grin

I'll get me coat...

mintbiscuit · 08/10/2017 15:06

Isis is a godness in egyptian mythology/religion. Mother of Horus.

I'm assuming that's where her parents probably took her name from.

(I loved learning about the ancient Egyptians at school!)

juneau · 08/10/2017 15:06

Would I change a 7-year-old's name? No, of course not!

Anyway, the name Isis is an Egyptian baby name. In Egyptian the meaning of the name Isis is: Mythical goddess of magic. Isis is the most powerful of all female goddesses; sister to Osiris.

That trumps any short-lived murderous cult!

MrsGotobed · 08/10/2017 15:11

Our tent is a Vango Isis. I've noticed that more recently it's been rebranded as the Vango Iris.

As for a child's name, no you can't change their name when they're 7!

I knew of a couple of babies called Isis around 18-20 years ago. Should they change their name too?

ChocolateCrunch · 08/10/2017 15:26

No, I wouldn't change it. It's also the name of the Oxford reserve boat race crew, and I can't see them changing it anytime soon.

Original poster
Inneedofacookeddinner · 08/10/2017 15:26

I'm not suggesting she changes it now-but ISIS has had negative connotations for a few years now and was wondering if you would have changed it when she was younger. It was more a general pondering really.

OP posts:
AdalindSchade · 08/10/2017 15:42

No. Isis are on their way out. In 5 years they will be nasty history.

L0quacious · 08/10/2017 15:45

Yupp, kind of tainted now. I would change it to Iris

BeardyDog8371 · 08/10/2017 16:25

I would change it to Iris.

Mrsknackered · 08/10/2017 17:38

I know an Isis who is 9. I used to really love her name, I do wonder if people have said things at school to her (maybe a little young yet)
It's unfortunate but I don't really associate that with her?

JoWithABow · 08/10/2017 17:47

Hmmmm, its a difficult one. Its such a beautiful name. And at what point would ypu change it? Eg when you first heard about isis you might not have realised it would become so infamous, and then as time goes on your child gets older and the name more ingrained. Also, technically although they are known as isis, broadcasters now use the term ISIL or 'so called islamic state' or IS for short, as isis is a misleadling term.
I think I once read an artical about this problem, and some grown women have felt obliged to change their name. I'll try and find it.

I also wonder about people who come to 'fame' because theyve committed henious crimes - what do their name sakes do? Thinking of child killers etc. I'd would be so unfortunate to have the same name as a serial killer or something. I think id change mine if that happened.

kaytee87 · 08/10/2017 18:18

I don't think you're allowed to change a baby's name once they're past a certain age.

MissWilmottsGhost · 08/10/2017 18:22

Nothing wrong with the name Isis.

People need to call the terrorists daesh.

Fekko · 08/10/2017 18:26

It makes me think of Dylan anyway.

BikeRunSki · 08/10/2017 18:28

Dd is nearly 6. I wanted to call her Isis - the terrorist groupie were only just emerging then- but DH was against it, as he is more on top of current affairs than me. So, 8 years ago, Isis probably didn’t have negative connotations. I wouldn’t change a child’s name once established.

EmmyInTheSticks · 08/10/2017 18:29

We have an Ira in the family. Not pronounced the same as IRA but still it has been commented on.

I would be tempted to change to Iris as so similar yet untainted by any negative connection.

PotteringAlong · 08/10/2017 18:30

No! They're 7; you're not just changing a 7 year olds name. And what are you going to say to them? "Sorry sweetheart, every time i say your name I think of hideous acts so let's just pick another one, eh?"

It's a lovely name that has a separate meaning. As someone else said, it's the Oxford reserve boat crew. It's also the Durham university infant sleep information service. I think they will survive...

BriechonCheese · 08/10/2017 18:30

There was a cafe in Manchester called Isis, the police got in touch with them a few years ago and advised them to change their name.

www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/cafe-named-isis-forced-change-7918393

Fekko · 08/10/2017 18:31

I used to get very confused by Iras when I was a child. As they were usually American I assumed their parents were showing their allegiances. I learned later that it was a proper name but it still looks odd to me!