Isobel or Elspeth or?

[portopal]

We are a Scottish / English couple living in Scotland and looking for a name for a girl. Currently between these two, probably leaning slightly towards Isobel. Can anyone help (or offer any more suggestions?). We also like Eilidh and Ailsa but these are family names already. Thanks in advance!

I prefer Isobel to Elspeth, it's just not a name I can imagine being used for a baby! Maybe my perception is skewed as I only know older ones.
Isla
Iona
Flora
Freya
Lorna
Catriona
Mhairi

Isobel is lovely (probably the most popular name round here though, with all the spelling variations)

Elspeth is lovely too and I rarely hear it (but I’m not in Scotland).

Do you like -

Maisie
Mirren
Elsie
Flora
Sorcha

not Elspeth, sorry but I think it’s an ugly name. Isobel is lovely and classic but popular.

I love Elspeth. Very underused.

I also love Edith, Vianne and Agnes.

Elspeth. Isabella and Isabelle are too popular.
Ishbel is nice.
Scottish girls' names

@MiddleAgedDread and @Moreteaandchocolate we actually already have a Flora (I forgot to mention!) but pleased to see it recommended. We think it rules out other names ending in A?

So far Elspeth seems more divisive which is true to real life opinions as well… We definitely like Isobel as a safe option and actually haven’t met any other Isobel / Isabel / Isabelle / Isabellas at all, despite the popularity

I love Isobel - massively prefer it to Elspeth but I don't dislike Elspeth.

However, I think I prefer Eilidh and Ailsa to both of them. Ailsa in particular I think is gorgeous - so pretty and underused. I knew one when I was little - a pair of Scottish sisters called Ailsa and Iona which I also think is really lovely. I think Flora and Ailsa are fine together and don't see the need to avoid an A name. How close is your family member called Ailsa? Maybe they'd be honoured if you used it too!

Those 6 Scottish names already mentioned make up most of the ones I know, to be honest. Err - Catriona? Morag? (I actually don't like that but I know it's Scottish!) Fiona? Sheona? Mairi? I suspect they're all a bit 90s, aren't they!

Hazel
Heather
Morven
Mirren

Eliza?

I really like Elspeth but as I would likely shorten the name I’m less drawn to it. I wouldn’t want to call dc Else.
Isobel is lovely and I like both Izzy and Belle.

I like both, but I prefer Izzy to Elsie so I'd go for Isobel.

Isobel and Elspeth are both lovely, but I'd go for Elspeth because its less used nowadays ( probably due a huge comeback!)

I also love Mairi and Shona.

Vivienne nn Vivie

I love Isobel (with that spelling).
I also really like
Isla
Iona
Lorna

I was tempted by the name Heather, not sure the name is Scottish as such but certainly Scottish connotations.

Oh Flora and Isabel is perfect!
Flo & Izzy

Elspeth is so ugly, saying is sounds like you have a lisp. Isobel is so much nicer.

I know a little girl called Rhona and I think it’s a lovely name.

Imogen

I wouldn’t say it rules out other names ending in a, it’s more important to choose your favourite name than for it to flow perfectly with her sister’s name, imo.

We think it rules out other names ending in A?
It rules out names like Cora and Laura. Something like Cressida, Tabitha or Anna would be fine.

The penultimate syllable would need to not have a long stressed vowel.

Flora and Rhona - a bit rhymey
Flora and Matilda - ok

Do you like Martha or Jennifer?

Pick a name you love. The names don't need to match.

Elspeth reminds me of the green witch in Wicked (Elphaba??)

Both nice I like Elspeth as don’t hear it as often. Other ideas…

annabel
iona
imogen
eliza
martha
esther
eloise
helena
eleanor
astrid
juliet

My mum was born in 1940 and was called Elspeth and absolutely hated it her whole life - because it was old fashioned lol. I like Elsie.

Not fond of Elspeth as it reminds me of old ladies when I was growing up in the 60s.
Isobel is ok depending on the pronunciation. Where I live it's "Izzibill" which doesn't sound nice to me but if the "bel" is pronounced it's fine.