Using popular baby names.

So I'm pretty set on using Isabelle, I've even almost decided on a middle name for her.  Then today someone makes the comment "Isabelle(a) sure is becoming a popular name because of the Twilight series books."  Well, for one I haven't even read the Twilight books and had no idea there was a character named that.  Second of all I chose the name not because I had seen it or heard it a lot or anything like that, but because of my great great grandma being named that.  The same thing with my DD3 being named Lily, I named her after an ancestor as well.  And I also just really like old fashioned names.  But it just so happens that Lily was really high on the popularity lists too.  Honestly I hate really popular names, because of the idea that my kids would have to go by their last initial or a nickname to tell them apart in school, since I had to.  I don't want to change the name now since I really like it and we've been calling her that and have told everyone that that's what her name is.  But now this is starting to bug me. 

The other thing that bugs me about the name Isabelle is that for some reason everyone assumes it's Isabella and not Isabelle.  Even when they read it for some reason in their head they say Isabella even though it's clearly an "e" and not an "a" at the end.  I've even had people say I should use Isabella because it's just better.  Well, for one I like Isabelle since it's the German spelling and goes better with our German last name.  And also the extra syllable in Isabella sounds way too long to me and I like the nicknames Belle and Elle better than Bella and Ella, in case we choose not to go with Izzy for her nickname.

Am I making a big deal out of this and it's not really a huge deal for me to use this name?  I'm not planning on changing it, I'm just frustrated with how things have played out.  I just seem to like popular names.  Like for a boy I was going to use Owen, now it's getting so way popular.  The first time I heard it was from an old guy in a nursing home that I worked at, then I heard it once in a movie and that's it.  Now everyone is talking about liking and wanting to use the name.  And there's even several people here on IG with kids with that name.  I have never even met an Owen, so I didn't think it was popular.  The same with Lily and Isabelle though.       

My DD's name is a very popular name and I regret it because in everything she does, there are other girls with the same name.  Trying to yell at her on the soccer field last night, and 2 girls on the other team keep turning around.   At the time I had NO IDEA it was a popular name, it was a name I had picked a long time ago. I wish I had checked the popular names list but it just didn't occur to me -- in fact my mom didn't like the name because she thought it was an old-fashioned, old lady's name!

Here is the list from social security: http://baby-names.familyeducation.com/topnames/girls/

"Isabel" is #88 in the top 100.  There are lot of names on there that surprise me as being top names, but you can't go by whether it seems "popular" to you, because unless you hang around with a lot of infants you won't know what's popular now. 

I think Isabelle is a beautiful name, either way!

I had the same problem with my 1st dd's name, I had choosen the name Jenna 20 years ago when I used to babysit a baby named Jenna, I feel in love with the name and always planned to name my 1st dd that, but when it came time to name her it was like 4th on the baby name list which just ticked me off.

finally I just decided it didn't matter if it was a popular name or not, I knew why I was naming her that. The same with your dd's name Isabelle, you know why you are naming your little one that name and it has alot of meaning to you not just some book. For some reason old fasioned names are making a huge comeback the past few years, I thought Emma was kinda original as I don't know a single Emma but after looking it up online it seems to be in the top 20 unfortunatly.

p.s. I like Isabelle much better than Isabella!

I'm sort of having a similar dilemma; I adore the name Madeline but am hesitant since it seems to be popular.  I had a non-common name growing up, and both my boys' names are pretty uncommon too.  I enjoyed not having to "share" my name growing up.  But I do think you should choose the name you like, regardless.  I think Isabelle is gorgeous!

I like www.behindthename.com for checking out the popularity and other info about names.  Isabelle was # 79 in 2007.  Check out that website!  I used it a lot when looking for a name for my girl.

Isabella is # 2.

My first son's name is a name that has a lot of meaning for us and I'd had that name in mind for years. Then I discovered that it was in the top 20 when he was born, and I think it's in the top 10 since then. It really hasn't been a big deal. He has had one class (in preschool) where there was another boy with his name, but not since then. His best friend's younger brother has the same name, which R thinks is cool. It helps that he goes to an alternative school where there aren't very many kids with top 10 names, but there were two boys named Linus in the same class, so you just never know!

Isabelle is beautiful and has special meaning to your family, so I say go ahead and use it. Also you're lucky that it has a lot of nickname potential. If she ends up in class with another Isabelle or Isabella, they can avoid having to add a last initial by using nicknames.

I say if you love the name, use it.  You'd be surprised at how many kids have uncommon names and still meet another kid with their name.  My 2nd sons name is Teagan, I think his name is totally not popular.  Well, he went to kindergarten this year and what do you know, he is one of THREE Teagans!!!   Craziness!  But I still love his name and don't mind the other Teagans (even though one for sure is a girl!).  I think Isabelle is pretty and you should use it if you love it.  No point in picking a name you don't love just so that she sticks out in a crowd of Isabelles.  And for what it's worth I don't know a single Isabelle!

You should read the Twilight series--it is GREAT!!! 

Now that I got that out of the way, I think Isabelle is a very pretty name and yes, it is popular but if you love it then don't worry about it.  Another spelling that may deter people from wanting to add the final "a" on is Isabel. 

 I'm with LoveMy3 on this one. I love the name Isabelle - DON'T CHANGE!

I wouldn't rule out a name based on popularity . . . but I personally would not pick a name on the top 10 list for my state (you can get this info on the SS website).  I know in my state, the list is quite a bit different than the national top 10 list.  I think a lot of kids feel comfortable with a name they consider "normal" because other kids they know have it but it can be kind of a pain if too many kids their age have the name.  

I always liked the name Isabelle, it was even on my "LIST" before I started birthin' babies, but now I don't think I'd ever use it because it's getting too popular, especially in the last three years.  I don't know if it's because of Twilight or what, but it's definitely all over. 

That said, I wouldn't advise you to not use it.  I'm INSANE about other people using "my" names.  My favorite name used to be Violet, but now because of the Afflecks I could never use it.  I have panic attacks thinking that someone is going to steal my new favorite girl name before I get to use it, even though it's extremely uncommon and a little weird.  I've only heard of one person IRL with the name, an old lady with huge hair who karaoke-sang "Stand By Your Man" on my honeymoon cruise (but we liked it before then!).  I even kinda regret naming DS1 Eli, because I'm hearing more and more kids with that name whereas before it was only Elijahs and you never heard Eli.  Pretty sure I'm not going to have to worry about name popularity exploding with DS2 Wolfgang!

Anyway, Isabella is the one that's really getting super popular.  You don't hear Isabelle as much, even though it's very similar.  If I were you, to make sure Isabelle wasn't misread as Isabella, I would spell it Isabel or Isabell maybe even.  I really dislike "unique" spelling, but I think those are both acceptable variations.

Your DDs all have very pretty names!

OMGosh Em, I hear ya there! Sophie was Izabella for the longest time. That was her name when we were TTC and all, but I changed it because its sooooooooooooooooo popular. I did not want a popular name because I can just imagine how many little girls with that name will be in her class when she starts school

My whole life I was going to have an Izabella but because of the popularity I changed it

I have a girl name for my next DD and I'm sure it will be VERY unique. If I have a boy it will be Xavier.

I'm due in June and I hope something doesn't make me change my mind again.

sailormoonmomma:

Sophie was Izabella for the longest time. That was her name when we were TTC and all, but I changed it because its sooooooooooooooooo popular.

You are too funny that you consider Sophie as less popular than Izabella!  I know Sophie is different than Sophia technically speaking, but Sophia is just as high on popularity lists as Isabella.  In my opinion I pretty much group names together that are that similar.  That's why I'm pretty much considering Isabelle just as popular as Isabella even though there is a difference, since it's close enough to me to be in the same category.  And if you really think about it if you put all the names that were pretty much similar together as the same thing for the lists then the popularity results on the SSA website would be way different.  I don't know if this is making any sense but it makes sense to me.  Anyways, Sophia with the NN Sophie was my first choice for DD4, but since DH doesn't like it and then his cousin used it for her baby last month...I decided not to go with it.  The annoying thing is that I liked Sophia for the same reason as Isabelle and Lily, and that's because I have an ancestor with that name but it just so happens to be popular now. 

sailormoonmomma:

I have a girl name for my next DD and I'm sure it will be VERY unique.

Any hints???

LOL! yeah Sophie and Sophia are about the same but you know what? I detest the name Sophia because I knew a nasty girl in Highschool with that name Sophie is more of a girlie name and sounds very soft to me but no SOPHIA

yeah ok I'll tell my girl name it will be JUNIPER and for short we will call her Piper but DH says if its a girl he is going to call his little JUNEbug

 My all time favorite boy name will always be Alexander but we have 3 in DH's family