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Baby names

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

Original poster

Ophelia or Isla??

54 replies

Balletmummyxx · 09/02/2018 09:44

Don’t mind about popularity of Isla. These are the final two we’ve narrowed it down to and due in 2 weeks! Help!

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MammieBear · 09/02/2018 09:55

Ophelia is a lovely name with a rich history it means help, Isla means island and probably has a history of its own kind but I think Ophelia has the upper hand.

AnyaMoondial · 09/02/2018 09:56

I love Isla, it's beautiful.

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 09/02/2018 10:16

Isla is lovely !

User197923462135 · 09/02/2018 10:18

I love Isla but I'm the same as you; the popularity would probably put me off a bit. I also love Ophelia if it's pronounces Oh-Fee-Lee-Ah but I've heard it pronounced Oh-Feel-Yuh and I'm not so fond of it like that.

awoken3 · 09/02/2018 10:25

Ophelia is absolutely beautiful. Isla is way too popular and so is the Turkish version of Isla which is spelt different but pronounced the same. I hear it all day long which is fine if that doesnt bother you but Ophelia is gorgeous.

Isadora2007 · 09/02/2018 10:28

I personally don’t like the way Ophelia can be joked about as “I feel you” in a kind of Yorkshire accent... I’m sure it was a joke when I was young hence it has stuck in my head.
So I prefer Isla. But it is very very popular.

Mrsjellybum · 09/02/2018 10:31

Ooh they are both lovely. They would work as first and middle names too.

I think you will know when you see her. I was dead set on Olivia but choose something different that was in our list but we disregarded.

I love Ophelia. (Although can u buy stuff with that name on. I hated not getting cups and hair bands with my name on as a child lol)

frogsoup · 09/02/2018 10:37

Ophelia is a lovely name but just a bit too die-hard poncy upper middle class for my liking, and I say that as a paid up member Grin. Think of yourself shouting it out loudly at the park and you'll see what I mean. Isla is beautiful (was on my shortlist too!)

Original poster
Balletmummyxx · 09/02/2018 11:02

Hmmm mixed opinions! Xx Confused

OP posts:
loveisenough · 09/02/2018 11:04

Definitely Ophelia in my opinion - beautiful name

JenTeale · 09/02/2018 11:10

Isla is lovely but ubiquitous, (particularly in Scotland)I'd go for Ophelia on that basis alone, it's also one of the nicest Shakespearian names in my view Smile

bluebabydinosaur · 09/02/2018 11:12

Isla

17caterpillars1mouse · 09/02/2018 11:30

If you don't mind about popularity then i'd say Isla

Meemzinha · 09/02/2018 12:10

Are you in the UK? If so I would go for Ophelia as Isla is in the top 10 and waaaaay too common now.

Meemzinha · 09/02/2018 12:12

And I like the idea of shouting Ophelia in the park haha! It's such a pretty name. My bf vetoed though...

SmiledWithTheRisingSun · 09/02/2018 12:14

Ophelia.

Madmarchpear · 09/02/2018 12:20

Ophelia. Isla is very common now.

harlaandgoddard · 09/02/2018 12:22

I love Isla, it is popular but I still think it’s so pretty.

NotAnotherEmma · 09/02/2018 17:43

I've always thought Isla was an awful name...so Ophelia.

PinkAvocado · 09/02/2018 17:46

I have only ever met two Isla’s so maybe popularity is regional. Ophelia is ok. It seems pretty but I always say ‘I feel ya’ in a Yorkshire accent in my head which takes the sheen off it! It just isn’t as nice a sounding name as it initially seems I think.

Meemzinha · 09/02/2018 18:00

Oh-fay-lee-ya... If you pronounce it like this I don't think it sounds like I feel ya.. Not even in a Yorkshire accent. Unless you live there, it shouldn't matter anyway

MikeUniformMike · 09/02/2018 18:22

Is your surname Payne?
Is your surname is White or Mann?
If it's Forest or Castle, how about Iona?

deptfordgirl · 09/02/2018 18:34

Ophelia. Isla is far too popular for me.

PinkAvocado · 10/02/2018 08:38

Meem-yes if you pronounce it like that but many do not.

OP the French version Ophélie would avoid the ‘ee’ sound in the middle.

BrutusMcDogface · 10/02/2018 08:43

I know an Ophelia who is fifi for short and it's gorgeous. She's two.