Bullied for being called Isabelle

[Worrier13]

Please bear with me as this is a bit long winded!
I recently had a beautiful baby girl who is a delight but I was rushed into choosing a name and decided on Isabelle.
I know everyone says it but I honestly didn't know how popular it was until we had decided on it. As it is number 24 I thought others would be more popular and I find it's everywhere!!
However I could live with that if I loved the name which I don't. Every time I hear it I think of is a bell and worry myself sick that she is going to get teased so badly at school and I've already failed her as a mum. I think about this constantly.
I'm looking for reassurance that she won't be bullied or if your child has because of this name how you dealt with it so I can prepare myself.

If your child is going to get bullied because there is an unpleasant child in their class, they will find something to pick on. It could be her name, her hair, her shoes... it won’t matter if everything is entirely average and ‘bullyproof’ because it’s about the bully, not the child being bullied.

Isabelle is a perfectly lovely name and really isn’t going to be a massive source of embarrassment for her. My name is something that you potentially could tease me for (becoming popular now but was more common for dogs/livestock 25 years ago!) and tbh if anyone tried to take the piss, I just shrugged it off as a really unimaginative way of trying to wind me up!

I don't think it's the 'type' of name that attracts a bully. I think there will be many Isabelle's in your dds school as it's popular and I think it is quite a nice name. I really wouldn't be worrying about negative connotations.
How old is your DD?
If you really dislike it that much and she's still only tiny then I would consider changing it.

I’ve come across quite a few Isabelles in a school setting (I’m a teacher and also have children at school) and I have honestly never heard anyone being teased about it. It is a popular name (more so than it looks because the different spellings all count as different names) but that’s because lots and lots of people like it.

It sounds like your daughter is still very young and you’re giving yourself a hard time. Could you be suffering from PND? I think this sort of worrying about names is a common sign. If you really don’t like it though, you could easily change it, but either way, please try not to worry. It’s a lovely name, but the fact that you’re looking out for your daughter and worrying about her wellbeing is far more important and shows you’re a great mum.

I think it is a beautiful name.
It is definitely NOT a name that I think would be a target for bullies.
The fact that you "worry constantly" and "worry yourself sick" is alarming. Your anxiety runs deeper than second thoughts about her name. What's really making you so anxious?

There are loads of girls called Isabelle, Isobel, Izzy, Bella, Belle in every school, I really dont think its a name that is remarked or picked on in any way. I know 7 or 8, probably more, across 4 kids and I dont think I've ever heard of any of them being bullied. Alos kids nowadays dont really make a fuss about names like in our day, there are so many more names out there and more multicultural names that I really think youd have to be called something really awful for it to be a thing. I have 4 kids from primary to secondary and have never heard about of any name calling, bullying, friendship issues at school etc that was centred around the childs name (other things, but not that).

I think you are worrying unnecessarily.

If your child is going to get bullied because there is an unpleasant child in their class, they will find something to pick on. It could be her name, her hair, her shoes... it won’t matter if everything is entirely average and ‘bullyproof’ because it’s about the bully, not the child being bullied.

This. Kids are much more accepting of others names and really don't get bullied because of their name (unless maybe if it's Willy or Poohead for example )

But if really dislike Isabel then you can always change it? Very easy under age 12 months.

OP I would be careful you are not tipping into pnd. Isabelle is a lovely, solid name. If you don't like the bell part, she can be Izzy. My daughters are never called by their full names, everyone uses a shortened version (which my kids like). Honestly her name is lovely.

My dd has a beautiful name which turned out to be massively popular. Never had a problem.
As op have said, a bully is the person responsible for bullying.

I have an Isabel. (Spelt this way)

Yes there's a silly old joke 'is a bell on a bicycle' something like that. Not funny or interesting and I don't think anyone would give it a second thought really.

It's a lovely name. As is the child behind it.

The problem is the bully. If there is one.
And I think an Isabel / Isabelle is far less likely to be targeted by bullies due to their name than many other names out there!!!

It's a lovely name. I know several children with variations on the name. No child would be bullied just for having that name. Seriously they wouldn't.
It's a beautiful name.

It's a pretty and popular name. If she gets teased, she'll just ignore it and they'll stop. Just the same as when a child gets teased about anything.
I know several Isabels and AFAIK they don't or didn't get teased.

please don’t stress OP! Isabelle is such a gorgeous name (especially spelt Isabelle!), and its certainly not a weird out-there name. she won’t be bullied- trust me. if shes young and you really feel like you can’t commit to Isabelle, you could change the name if you realllyy wanted too or shorten it too Izzy or Belle? but Isabelle is truly such a perfect and beautiful name, give it some time and you will see how perfect it will be! x

Isabelle is not a remotely teasable name OP. It’s pretty, familiar and has lots of nice options for shortening it if she wants to. I think you’ve done your daughter proud.

It's a very normal name. If you dislike it start calling her by a short nn straight away. We have an Izzy in school, long name Isabel, on the school register as Izzy and never called anything else.

I've got a 9 year old isobel. She's been teased a couple of times by a boy (is a bell on a bus goes ding ding) and she got a bit upset but I just told her to laugh and ignore and it stopped. It wasn't a big deal and she's not been teased since. I really wouldn't worry about it, kids will seize on anything

Isabelle is a perfectly normal, pretty and popular name.
Look after yourself op talk to your Hv or GP if you need to.

This isn’t about the name or about your DD getting bullied, it sounds like post-natal anxiety.

A friend of mine who recently had a baby, started to get similar obsessive thoughts of him coming to harm at school etc, she got treatment and she’s much better now.

Take it easy.

It is definitely NOT a name that I think would be a target for bullies.

What names do you think will attract bullies, because clearly we need a top 10 to avoid?

I teach an Isabelle. She calls herself Bella. I have never heard even a whisper of a suggestion of people taking the piss out of her name. It's a pretty name. I agree with others that you may want to talk to your GP or health worker about how you are feeling. Look after yourself.

In my DD's school there are no Isabels, Isabelles, Bella or Belles! In fact I don't think there has been one since she started (now in Y6).

It is a lovely name.

I went to school with an Isabelle, she was never ever bullied because of her name.

Absolutely normal name and beautiful. No worry she will never be bullied for it

Isabelle is beautiful.

She may become Issy, Belle or Bella, or she may not.

I think the fact the name is reasonably popular mitigates against people picking on the 'Is a bell' pun. Isabelle just sounds too normal to most people for anyone to find that funny.

The 'Furchester Hotel' muppet programme on CBeebies does have a character who is a bell, called 'Is a bell' and it's just cute and affectionate.

So many names can be made silly if you really try. Most people don't want to try, or would only do it affectionately. People who do want to be hurtful will always find something.

I think the pps have made clear that she won't be bullied for her name.

However if you don't like it, consider changing it. It is very very popular and if you aren't keen surely you will just start to get annoyed by how many other kids are called it.

Have you spoken to your partner, family about it? Who rushed you in the first place? Do you have another name you'd change to or is it just a feeling of unease with no clear alternative?

Thank you everyone.
You have really helped! I have been having anxieties about a number of things and this is one of them. I really wanted to change it but I had several opportunities and I couldn't think of anything else when she was here. I didn't like any name at all. I still don't know what option I should take?