What do you think of the name Isla?

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-11-2007
What do you think of the name Isla?
40
Tue, 09-11-2007 - 11:57am
I posted this dilemma to my due date group and it was suggested I try it here, as well. I love the name Isla (prounounced like Island without the "nd"), but everyone I show it to thinks it's pronounced Izla. I've experimented with different spellings, like Ila, Ilah, Eyla - but none of them seem as pretty to me, and all of them still seem to leave room for mispronunciation. I don't want to doom my daughter to a lifetime of correcting people! Should I just use it as is, change the spelling, or give it up completely? There is a new up and coming actress named Isla Fisher who was on the movie "Wedding Crashers". I keep hoping her successes will make the name more familiar, but I can't wait to find out. My baby is due October 18th! Help!
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-11-2007
Tue, 09-11-2007 - 11:13pm

Maybe.... someone else suggested Eila. But none of the alternative spellings seem as pretty. Guess I'll have to keep thinking.

Melinda

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-11-2007
Tue, 09-11-2007 - 11:14pm

Thanks for the vote of confidence! So many people gave me negative responses at first that I was about to give up on it. But several people have responded favorably since then, so I may stick with it after all.

Melinda

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-11-2007
Tue, 09-11-2007 - 11:16pm

Thanks for the vote of confidence! So many people responded negatively at first that I was about to give up on it. But several people have responded favorably since then, so I may use it after all.

Melinda

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-11-2007
Tue, 09-11-2007 - 11:17pm

Yes that helps! Thanks for your objective and favorable response!

Melinda

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-11-2007
Tue, 09-11-2007 - 11:18pm

Thanks for your thoughts and objective opinion! I really appreciate it.

Melinda

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-11-2007
Tue, 09-11-2007 - 11:19pm

THANK YOU!!! I feel so validated! There were so many responses initially that led me to believe no one would ever know how to say it that I was about to give up hope!

Melinda

Avatar for dr_kae
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 09-11-2007 - 11:35pm
I love it and it would probably be 50/50 as to whether people get the pronunciation correct or not, depending on where she's at at a given time. But I would definitely stick to the original spelling--it's a unique enough name that people will remember how to pronounce it after one correction, whereas names with a lot of variants (like my own--Kristen...or Christine, or Krista, or Tristen...) will be more apt to trip people up repeatedly.
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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-20-2001
Wed, 09-12-2007 - 12:03am

I love the name, particularly the pronunciation, but I think there will be a LOT of correcting people with this one.

good luck, whatever you decide!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-26-1999
Wed, 09-12-2007 - 1:09am

Oh, I love Isla!

It's very pretty sounding, & really this is one name that I don't think you should mess w/the spelling. You're right; it doesn't look as good any other way. I think a few pronouniation corrections would be worth it to have such a gorgeous and unique (but legtit) name.

Hope this helps!

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-09-2007
Wed, 09-12-2007 - 7:12am

Another variant would be Ayela. I don't think I saw that one on the posts. But whatever way you'd prefer to spell it is ultimately the right decision since she's going to be your child. Or you could use it as a middle name where not many people are going to need to know the pronunciation. Just a suggestion, but it's still a beautiful name. October 20th is my birthday. Just thought i'd throw that in!

Good luck with everything.

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