Isobel - is it really too common?

[Taurean]

Hi Girls. I need your help.

Both DH and I have loved Isobel for a girl since day dot. I have a couple of other girls names I love too but DH just adores Isobel and the more I think about it, I really do too. My only concern is that it's too popular these days. I know the spelling I have chosen is slightly different but that means nothing to me, it still says Isobel and sounds the same as any other spelling of Isobel and it is also very similar to Isabella which was #4 in the top 10 in Australia last year.

I really don't want our little 'Izzy' to be one of 5 in her class at school. Do you girls think that will be the case, honestly? How popular is Isobel/Isabella at the moment?

TIA!

PS: boys names - sorted. They were so much easier!!

[{sarah}]

I don't know a single Isobel / Isabelle in real life. There are some here on BB, but IRL I haven't even met one!

[*Ash*]

I know 3 Isobel's - my mum, my DH grandmother, and my friend's mother....

I don't know any children with the name. I prefer the spelling that you like too.

[Roryrory]

Isabelle, Isobel, Isabel, Bella, Isabella - they are all extremely popular at the moment. In Victoria in 2008, Isabella was the 4th most popular name for a girl, while Isabelle was 24th and Isabel was 70th or thereabouts. Check the WA births registry and I suspect you will have the same sort of result....

Funny how names pan out. Flynn was 73rd when we chose it and is slowly dropping in popularity, but Oliver is climbing. I wanted Rex, though........!

[Taurean]

Good advice Rory - that is eaxtly what I was looking for. I don't know why I didn't find that info earlier seeing I'm such a 'google queen'!

Well, to my surprise, Isobel didn't even make the Top 50 in WA in 2008. Isabella was #8 with a total of 144 occurrences which really isn't that much given there were 32139 births registered in WA in 2008 (so roughly 15000 baby girls). Bella came in at #50 with only 34 occurrences.

Keep the feedback coming girls but given that bit of info above, I really don't think Isobel is anywhere near as popular as I first thought.

[Rach75]

if your only concern is the poularity use it when Jack was born jack was supposedly the #1 boys name for 2006 I am yet to meet another Jack his age I have met a couple younger ones and a few way older but none his age HTH...

[Ellee05]

I only know of one Isobel and she is about 10 years old. I really don't think it is that popular and in our search for names it's not one that seems to have been in my mind as popular.

We're the opposite, girl name is choosen but boys names are still flying around in our head

Good luck

[Erin_25]

I really think it more comes down to if you want to use it, then use it. It is your choice, regardless of how many you know.
I myself know a fair few little girls atm with that name, & it seems many have chosen for the like of the nickname "izzy"....which is just adorable..........so if you want it, then you have it!

[Taurean]

it seems many have chosen for the like of the nickname "izzy"....which is just adorable..........so if you want it, then you have it!

That is exactly why we chose it - we love Izzy as a nickname. Nicknames are important to both of us so most of our fave names have come about from the nicknames

I am starting to think that too - if we like it so much then we should just use it.

Thanks for your thoughts girls!

[Fleur]

I have a cousin Isabelle, she is 8 this year & the only one I know.

I say if you & your Dh both love it then go for it... it's hard enough to come up with a name you both love as it is! well for us anyway...

[jamakin]

to be honest i dont really think its that popular.. i dont know any Isobels or isabelles. although i really like the name. especially the way your going to spell it!
it can be so hard choosing a name i think if you really like it then you should use it!
all the best!

[Janine1511]

I've heard it's common but i still think it's beautiful...

Isobel Paige or Isobel Grace were both up there at the top of my list of girls names but DF wasn't as keen

[Taurean]

Oh thanks so much girls! I was so worried about it being too popular that I was trying to turn myself off it. So stupid, I know!!

Right, Isobel (little Izzy!) is back on top of the list

After all that, what's the bet we have a boy. LOL!

[Nai]

I know 3 in real life - one is in her 40's, one is 6 and the other is 2. None of them are in WA either.

[luna moth]

Isobal is not as common as Isabella, and I'd say both are really declining in popularity - 5 years ago in kindies we were seeing 3 or 4 in a group, but right now there's hardly any (in that time I've also moved from Vic to Qld) which is what makes me think it's much more common among kids already at school.
Go for it, it is such a lovely name.

[[M]umma[M]ia]

yeah its common, but who cares! its a very pretty name and just because its common doesnt mean u cant have the name u want for your child.

[bon]

I don't know any...so far DS hasn't been to kindy/school with any Isobels and neither has DD. It is actually one of our favourite names for our bub too - I know it is high up the popularity scale, but TBH how 'common' a name is has never bothered me - if I like it, I like it and I don't really care how popular it is.