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Original poster

Would the popularity of Isla put you off?

51 replies

Sunshine1996 · 11/07/2020 20:20

Today we found out we are expecting a little girl, we are over the moon! We’ve started thinking about names. Middle name will be Patricia after partner’s grandmother.
We love Isla, however we realise it’s very popular! Not sure whether that’s off putting..
Any other suggestions are welcome! Other names I like but cannot use:
Esme
Camilla (Millie for short)
Mila
Florence
Rosie

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MikeUniformMike · 11/07/2020 20:29

It too popular but is quite pretty.
Brilliant if your surname is White.

17caterpillars1mouse · 11/07/2020 20:30

It would me as its very popular in my area and isn't a classic name that's always been well known so it will probably date

NannyR · 11/07/2020 20:36

It wouldn't put me off if it was a name I really loved. It is a very popular name, but for a good reason - it's a lovely name! Just because it's popular doesn't necessarily mean there will be several Islas in her peer group - I know children who have fairly unusual names who are one of two in their class and children who have popular names who are the only one in the school.

Elouera · 11/07/2020 20:41

Do you have a Scottish connection? Do you like Skye, Skylar, Iona, Ilona?

I loved Isla when I 1st heard it 15yrs ago, but now it does seem too popular and no longer unique like it used to be.

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 11/07/2020 21:01

I agree with @17caterpillars1mouse - it’s not so much the popularity as the fact that it isn’t a long-term classic, so it will date.

mylittleavalon · 11/07/2020 21:09

It's very popular which would put me off but think it is a pretty name- as for suggestions what about Freya, Flora, Lydia, Tessa, Collette, Darcy, Ava, Verity, Josephine, Bonnie

Thistlegirl4 · 11/07/2020 21:19

No if I really liked a name the popularity wouldn't bother me. The main thing is that you like it. Sometimes a name that is popular may not be that popular where you live.

TooBusyBeingYoursToFall · 11/07/2020 22:08

Yes, I'm afraid the popularity would put me off. Which is a shame because it's lovely, and didn't start climbing to the top of the popularity charts until about 10 years ago. It really is a beautiful name but it's too common now.

Grufallosfriends · 11/07/2020 22:53

Yes, the popularity would definitely put me off.

midsomermurderess · 11/07/2020 22:57

The Scottish connection. I think someone is mixing up Isla with Islay.

SnowdropFox · 11/07/2020 23:00

Yup it would. There are at least 3 in my small street alone Aged between 7 and 10. I've met a few more too (all children). It feels like Kirsty when I was a kid.
I'm in Scotland btw.

SnowdropFox · 11/07/2020 23:03

There is still the Scottish connection. Aside from the island which the name is derived from there isnat least one river in Scotland (not far from Dundee) called the River Isla.

mathanxiety · 11/07/2020 23:03

The popularity wouldn't bother me.

One of my DDs has a name that has been in the top ten for two decades. We've only encountered a few, one in her class in elementary school (48 students in the year) and two others in her massive high school class of 800.

Otoh, another DD has a very unusual name and she had someone with the same name in class with her too.

There are no guarantees no matter what way you go.

Sometimes names are popular because they are really lovely names.

Gottheteeshirtandlostit · 11/07/2020 23:05

Ailsa? Also Scottish.

DramaAlpaca · 11/07/2020 23:05

I love Isla and its popularity wouldn't bother me. I think you might regret not using a name you really love.

Scottishflower · 12/07/2020 02:17

I think if you really love a name you should choose it. For me, it's definitely too popular but I think it's so pretty. X

IHaveBrilloHair · 12/07/2020 02:20

Everything on your list is quite popular if that's important to you.
Isla is a lovely name.

Allmyeye · 12/07/2020 02:28

I like it but it would be too popular for me.

Mnhealth202020 · 12/07/2020 02:39

I know people in their 20s called Ala/Ayla, including one of my close friends. So I sort of heavily associate the name with her and may not consider it for that reason. The popularity doesn’t bother me, all of the names on your list are common names after all. I don’t think it flows well with Patricia though.

Whatsyourflava · 12/07/2020 10:56

I love the name!!

It's worth noting that numbers wise, if you look at the official ONS data, the popularity of Isla has been falling pretty dramatically year on year since 2014. By the time the 2020 statistics come out the numbers are likely to be far lower.

You might pick a name like Mila that you don't like as much but feel will be less popular, only to find Mila has overtaken Isla in the charts! Mila is on a constant steep upward trajectory year on year

BatleyTownswomensGuild · 12/07/2020 12:45

I think it's lovely. And it has beautiful associations. Go for it!

Tallace · 12/07/2020 12:55

I think its a lovely name. It doesnt go with a lot of surnames though.

MikeUniformMike · 12/07/2020 13:24

What has Skylar to do with Scotland?

Elouera · 12/07/2020 13:34

@MikeUniformMike: Origin of the name Skylar:
Modern coinage of uncertain derivation. It might be based on sky or perhaps on the name of the Isle of Skye, an island off the coast of Scotland

MikeUniformMike · 12/07/2020 14:05

Hmm. It's pretty awful regardless of its origin.