Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Baby names

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

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

Bullied for being called Isabelle

70 replies

Worrier13 · 09/04/2019 10:12

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.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

teyem · 11/04/2019 11:47

There was a girl in ds's class who did endure a lot of "is a bell..?" jokes in primary school, each kid thinking she was hearing it for the first time. It wasn't mean natured but fairly regular and tiresome. I'm not sure how that panned out because we moved schools.

Belboeuf · 11/04/2019 11:58

Clytemnestra. Clytie for short.

I am fairly sure you would be bullied for that. My mu insists that it is so unusual nobody would be able to find something to bully about it.

She is such an innocent, my mum.

Well, she's right in that the bully would either need to be conversant with Greek myth, or to look it up -- or is she just saying that a Clytie would be bullied purely because her name is unusual? My son has a name that only five babies in total were called in his year of birth in the UK, and he's never had the slightest issue in a schoolyard full of Freddies, Harrys, Mias and Imogens.

GregoryPeckingDuck · 11/04/2019 11:59

Children don’t get bullied because of their name. They get bullied because they are susceptible to it.

notacooldad · 11/04/2019 12:03

I work with two young people wit that name. One is 12 and likes to be called Izzy, although mum uses full name and the other is 17 and doesn't like her name being abbreviated.
Both lovely kids and nothing has been flagged up about bullying.

PCohle · 11/04/2019 12:22

They get bullied because they are susceptible to it.

Not to get wildly off topic, but nice way to blame the victim. Kids get bullied because of the choices and actions of bullies.

Well, she's right in that the bully would either need to be conversant with Greek myth, or to look it up -- or is she just saying that a Clytie would be bullied purely because her name is unusual?

Yes, I just can't work out why my DD Fanny is getting bullied. It must be because the bullies are conversant with the works of Francis Burney, or just because of how unusual the name is

Belboeuf · 11/04/2019 12:27

Children don’t get bullied because of their name. They get bullied because they are susceptible to it.

Children get bullied because they are unlucky enough to cross the path of a bully. Rather like women get raped because they are unfortunate enough to encounter a rapist. In both cases, it is due to someone else's actions.

Usuallyinthemiddle · 11/04/2019 12:28

It's a lovely name. Could you love Bella? Or Izzy? Please don't worry. If everyone called Isabelle was bullied, it would be a huge bun fight! Nothing wrong with a popular name that doesn't raise eyebrows in life xxxx

Belboeuf · 11/04/2019 12:32

Francis Burney

That would be Frances Burney to you, PCohle. A woman who, despite being responsible for Evelina, possibly the most annoying novel in the history of the genre, also wrote brilliantly about just how boring it was being a courtier at the court of George III, and the world's most gutsy and horrifying account of her own mastectomy with no anaesthetic. (And which once made on of my students faint.).

tisonlymeagain · 11/04/2019 12:42

Why on earth would anyone get bullied for being called Isabelle? Genuinely confused!

Anytime · 11/04/2019 13:04

I have 2 boys but each time I was pregnant Isabelle was top of my 'girl names'. It's beautiful. Please don't worry. It may be feeling a bigger concern that it should be if you are still suffering sleepless nights. Until mine were both over 6 months and sleeping more (at night) I worried about all sorts.

Original poster

Worrier13 · 11/04/2019 14:57

I'm also panicking that no-one will use her full name and call her izzy (which I never just wanted a name where it would never be used) I'm in a bit of a mess with it all really

OP posts:

missmouse101 · 11/04/2019 15:09

Op, if you don't like it, please do consider changing it. Many people do this every year and it will instantly settle your worry. I wish I had changed my daughter's name. I dislike it every time I hear it, but she's 18 now!

notacooldad · 11/04/2019 15:11

When she is a child you set the scene for her name. Use the full name and get others to use it.
However as she grows she may prefer an alternative version to her full name and theres not much you can do about that.
However that is true of any name you give her.

PCohle · 11/04/2019 15:18

You don't want a name where the full version of the name will never be used?

Well in that case I can see why you have some concerns about the name Isabelle, it does have a lot of nickname options. Is there a name you actually like more though?

Personally I've always though being controlling about the nickname your child ends up with or insisting they get called by their full name is a path to misery.

Original poster

Worrier13 · 11/04/2019 15:22

Sorry I meant to say I didn't want a name where a nickname would automatically be used rather than the full name I have given them. MIL has already tried to call her 2 nicknames already (without asking and knowing about the name situation) and it really upset me.

OP posts:

CostanzaG · 11/04/2019 15:26

She will end up with a nickname whether you like it or not. That's not something you can really control.
Isabelle is a beautiful name as are the many nicknames derived from it.

notacooldad · 11/04/2019 15:30

Sorry I meant to say I didn't want a name where a nickname would automatically be used rather than the full name I have given them
I have one of those names,(think David to Dave,Catherine to Cath) however my mum insisted on my full name. That stayed until I was in my 30s and one person calls me by the name mum hates. I let them get away with it as they are pretty special so I dont mind!!

Tiramisu1 · 11/04/2019 15:58

It's a person not a name that gets bullied in my experience.

MercyBodle · 11/04/2019 23:54

While Isabelle is a perfectly lovely name, if you want to change it you should feel free to do so. It's not that unusual to change and not a big deal in the first year. You can take some time to look at alternatives until you find something you love. Maybe either something that is not easily given a nickname, or something that you love the nicknames as well.

Your question should you love it straight away or grow to love it - I think there is a strong element of loving something straight away - if it just makes you smile and feel proud to introduce her. Of course names do definitely grow on us too. If you're really disliking it and the nns it's definitely worth considering other names though. Just don't beat yourself up and feel bad - it really is okay to change your mind.

makingmiracles · 12/04/2019 00:05

It’s not a name I’m personally fond of or that I’d ever choose, but it’s a perfectly acceptable name, In fact a relative has recently called their baby the same name but with an added, (derived from a completely different name) nickname . In terms of nicknames, unfortunately that’s not something you will have much control over, family especially will call them what they choose to and the child themselve may prefer the shortened version.

I’d say if you’re not happy change it now, don’t wait to see if you feel happier down the line as most likely you won’t, change it whilst she’s still a baby and oblivious, and new enough that people will soon forget she’s had a name change, it’ll be an interesting story to tell her one day!

Flip

1 2 3