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Original poster

Is Isabelle Too Common?

45 replies

Caribun · 02/08/2023 21:50

Hubby and I are expecting DD2 in January. DD1 is Natalie (Tilly) and we think we've settled on Isabelle (Izzy) for DD2 but now we're worrying that Isabella is so common that there are going to be hundreds of Izzy's or Belle's in her year.

Would this bother you or should we stick with it? It's the first name we've managed to agree on! 😂

Also, thoughts on the middle name Adelaide? The other option was Ellen but Isabelle Ellen seems like too many e's and l's in a row!

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NuffSaidSam · 02/08/2023 21:55

I really like Izzy, but I do think it's very common.

What about Elizabeth or Eliza and using Lizzie (or Izzy) or Libby.

I really like Adelaide, but it's a bit of a mouthful after Isabelle/Isabella. What about Adelaide as first name?

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 02/08/2023 22:26

Isabelle's certainly more common place than Natalie now for young girls - but it's hardly so common there would be loads in her year at school! By all means check your local ONS statistics in case there's an anomaly for your area, but based on the national numbers I'd find it hard to believe there would be more than one or two Isabel/Isobel/Isabelle/Isabella's in her school year now (even adding all the spellings together) - if you look at the numbers the big "Izzy" name surge happened a decade ago and they are decreasing year on year now.

Middle names don't really matter imo (unless the initials spell something dodgy). So although neither Adelaide or Ellen flow brilliantly with Isabelle (generally you'd want a middle name without repeated sounds and a different number of syllables to the first name for that), they also don't sound bad either - I'd just pick something that has meaning, like honouring a friend/family member.

OopsieeDaisy · 02/08/2023 22:26

I love Isabelle / Izzy! It’s a popular name but not overly so, at least not where I am.
I do agree that Isabelle Adelaide is a bit of a mouthful though. A one or two syllable middle name would probably flow nicely, such as Isabelle Charlotte, Isabelle Marie, or Isabelle Daisy.

Original poster
Caribun · 02/08/2023 22:35

Thank you, I should have added really that Adelaide is a family name and hubby is really keen on it but I will suggest others.

I checked ONS, I did not realise I could do that! Only three Isabelles and three Isabellas born in our district so not too common!

OP posts:
ChocoChocoLatte · 02/08/2023 22:40

MN will always tell you this is a common one. In the 20+ years since we had ours, I’ve only known of two others…….

TheaBrandt · 02/08/2023 22:42

Really?! I have two teen girls and there are loads of Izzy’s.

Jellycats4life · 02/08/2023 22:42

It’s one of the most common girls names I know. Whether spelled Isabel, Isobel or Isabelle/a.

AuntieStella · 02/08/2023 22:44

No (for the question in the title)

It was extremely popular between about 2006-2010

It's dropped back since then (Sophie/Sofia and variants, Evie and variants, have both peaked as high or higher since, and Ruby, Ellie and Emmie type names have come close, and of course there's the perennial Olivia).

But still people want portray Isabel (and variants) in a bad light - even though other names should be criticised just as heavily or more so.

I think Adelaide is a lovely name

LoveBluey · 02/08/2023 22:46

I don't think it's overly common now, there are 2 in my DDs year group (out of 90 children)
Funnily enough there are also 2 Adelaide's and 2 Adeline's and I would have thought they'd be much less common.

I think as long as you know it's not going to be a unique name and you like it then go for it. It would be worse to pick what you think is a really unusual name and then meet lots of others.

PermanentTemporary · 02/08/2023 22:49

I have to say in the circumstances I might just use Adelaide which is an awesome name...

Isabelle Adelaide is quite a mouthful but it's doable. The d sound at the end helps.

It is reasonably common, but that also means that you get to buy the named pencils etc which is a brilliant perk.

backoffbuster · 02/08/2023 22:53

I don’t know any under 10. I have known tonnes of older ones, but I don’t think Izzy is as popular as it once was. Evie and Sophie have replaced it I think.

PickledScrump · 02/08/2023 23:02

I have an Isabelle, she’s 12 now, there were a few in her year with various spellings but since then I don’t know of any others. I think it’s dropped in popularity quite a bit now so I don’t think it’s going to be an issue for you. To be honest I still absolutely love her name and wouldn’t want to change it even if there were others

caringcarer · 02/08/2023 23:46

My dog is Izzabella and I think it's a beautiful name. We call her Izzy. It literally means Is a beauty. Her sister is Lillianna and we call her Lilly.

RhosynBach · 02/08/2023 23:49

I think it’s dropping a bit but izzie is still a mega popular nickname

love Adelaide though- I would pick it as a first name. With Addy, Allie or Delly for nicknames if you wanted a nickname

Louise295 · 02/08/2023 23:55

My daughter (9) is Isabella /Bella and she is 1 of 4 in her year 🫣

NoraF · 02/08/2023 23:56

I really don’t think Natalie is that much less common than Isabelle/Isabella, so might as well go with the name that you love.

continentallentil · 03/08/2023 00:25

There are a lot of them, and Isabel, Isobel, Isabelle and Isabella are all logged separately so you have to add them together.

It’s a nice name though.

continentallentil · 03/08/2023 00:26

NoraF · 02/08/2023 23:56

I really don’t think Natalie is that much less common than Isabelle/Isabella, so might as well go with the name that you love.

It is. Nathalie is very unusual these days. Go check on dark greener

elm26 · 03/08/2023 00:30

Funnily enough my birth name is Ellen but I'm called Ellie and always have been and my daughter is Tilly Isabella.

I love Isabelle.

Getyourshoeonnow · 03/08/2023 00:33

I have an Isobel. There are only 2 in her year. None above and one below. The other one in her year is Isabelle. Which is the more popular spelling.
I know I'm biased but its a beautiful name.😆 ours isn't an Izzy though or a belle.

Lilyargin · 03/08/2023 00:40

Isabel is a lovely name. So many people spell it the French way, with a double l and e but unless you have French ancestry, I wouldn't spell it that way. Isobel is the Scottish version.
I think Isabelle is over done and shows that people aren't aware of the various heritages of the name.
If you do have French heritage, go for it.
It's a bit like Annabelle. The English spelling is Annabel. There is no French version with a double l, e as it's not a French name, but that is the most common spelling of this name.
For people mentioning Adelaide, I don't really like this name, as 'laide' is French for ugly, and the name is an English variant of the German name Adelheid. Like a lot of German names, it's heavy-sounding to me.
I do have two nieces called Isabel and Adelaide though and they're both great people.
If you do choose Isabel, which is a beautiful name, spell it traditionally is my advice.

Flippingfruitflies · 03/08/2023 00:50

My dd is Isabelle and she gets Izzy. She’s one of 3 in her nursery class.

Theoldwoman · 03/08/2023 02:56

I prefer Isobel spelling.

Isobel Adelaide is lovely.

Natalie and Isobel flow well together.

Not a fan of Izzy.

TooBigForMyBoots · 03/08/2023 02:59

Isabelle is not common. It's necessary. Especially on a bike.Grin

PeanutButterOnToad · 03/08/2023 03:02

I think it is a beautiful name and basically you should give children names you love without worrying too much about popularity. I gave one of my boys a name that was unusual at the time, now it is a top three name in more than one English speaking country. I absolutely adore the name though so don’t care.