Isabella
This name has been on my mind a bit lately. What do you think of Isabella? Which nickname do you like for it? Bella, Belle, Izzy or Isa?
I used to love Isabella but didn't like the Twilight association even though I like the movies in a GP kind of way. It also got so common! But now it seems like it is already going down which I find rather unusual! Do you think it will continue to fall?
I used to love Isabella but didn't like the Twilight association even though I like the movies in a GP kind of way. It also got so common! But now it seems like it is already going down which I find rather unusual! Do you think it will continue to fall?
Replies
I dislike Isabella a lot. It's such a prissy name, perfect for a spoilt little princess of a girl dressed in endless frills who throws a tantrum when she doesn't get what she wants. When I was working in schools, this stereotype was very much confirmed. That being said, I can respect the history of the name and there are definitely worse names out there to lump on your child for life. But I just don't like it.
I do like Izzy as a nickname quite a lot though. In my experience, Izzy is usually the nickname for Isabel (and the spelling variants) and Isabella tends to get Bella (which I despise).
I do like Izzy as a nickname quite a lot though. In my experience, Izzy is usually the nickname for Isabel (and the spelling variants) and Isabella tends to get Bella (which I despise).
Isabella was actually pretty trendy before Twilight. In 2004 (a year before the first Twilight book came out) it was already #7. Bella by itself is much more blatantly associated with Twilight than Isabella is. The Twilight association has probably already faded with Isabella, but Bella will still have it for quite some time (after all, Bella's popularity boost due to Twilight is much more obvious).
These days, no one outside of literary snark communities really cares about Twilight. What's happening to Twilight is basically like what happened to the Babysitters' Club books.
Isabella is still quite popular, but if you like it that much, you can use it.
These days, no one outside of literary snark communities really cares about Twilight. What's happening to Twilight is basically like what happened to the Babysitters' Club books.
Isabella is still quite popular, but if you like it that much, you can use it.
This message was edited 5/27/2017, 8:39 AM
I prefer Isobel.
It is going down, but is still super popular. I love it anyway, though. I slightly prefer Isobel or Isabelle, but not because Isabella is more popular. They are just slightly more my style. Belle is my favourite nickname, but Izzy is lovely, too. I love Annabel as well, but my personal favourite is Amabel - but I digress...! If you love Isabella, don't worry about the popularity. I refuse to stop loving Emma, Charlotte or James, and they're all super popular.
agree ^^^ (M) & question
I agree. Though scarcity rather than popularity would endear any attribute beyond the common--and this would not only occur through name preferences.
I too love Emma & Charlotte--and popularity would not alter my preference. I do not know of any ladies by the name of James--but I think this would be a welcome change for my perceptions.
Would you know if ladies with the formal name of James frequently use the short names "Jim" or "Jimmy / Jimmie"?
I agree. Though scarcity rather than popularity would endear any attribute beyond the common--and this would not only occur through name preferences.
I too love Emma & Charlotte--and popularity would not alter my preference. I do not know of any ladies by the name of James--but I think this would be a welcome change for my perceptions.
Would you know if ladies with the formal name of James frequently use the short names "Jim" or "Jimmy / Jimmie"?
This message was edited 5/27/2017, 3:31 AM
Oh, I switched to talking about popular male names, too. I have heard that James is used for girls, but I personally love it for boys. I do like Jamie for girls, and Jimi works. We did have a girl budgie called Jimi, after Hendrix, although we thought originally that she was a boy. We kept the name, as it suited her, and the ending made it look feminine.
I like Isabel and especially Isobel a lot. Neither of them seems to need a nn, but Isabella is inconveniently long and complicated, so it would very probably shorten to Bella, which I find very dated on a human and very popular on domestic pets.
I was at Uni with two girls who were inseparable friends, both dark and pretty and Drama students, and were both named Isabella. They were known for convenience as Bella and Iz. I really don't enjoy any of the nns.
I was at Uni with two girls who were inseparable friends, both dark and pretty and Drama students, and were both named Isabella. They were known for convenience as Bella and Iz. I really don't enjoy any of the nns.
It's OK (very neutral) I do prefer Isabelle though. Also, yes I do think Isabella will continue to fall. I predict the same for Sophia and Emily for certain will drop out of the top 10's by next year with the 2017 list.
That's just a small portion of my 2017 name predictions.
Nicknames: I like Bella the most.
That's just a small portion of my 2017 name predictions.
Nicknames: I like Bella the most.
I've always found it kind of boring, and prefer variations like Arabella, Belle, or Isobel. I've even started to crush on Isa, but as a nn for another name. Isabella just feels plain and bland to me. Pretty, but not dramatic or exotic or magical or particularly fun, energetic, or feisty. That might be because of its popularity, having known one, and in my accent it doesn't sound very interesting or attractive. But I don't think it's awful and I think the Twilight connection will soon die out, or already has.
I've always hated it. I think the "iz" sound is ugly, and it always makes me think of a dark middle-aged overweight woman who has a mustache.
Many years ago, when I was about 12 years old, my then brother-in-law began singing a dumb song that he was making up as he went along, a song that featured the name Isabella and that seemed to be mocking it. I can't remember what prompted him to do it. He was distorting words slightly to rhyme with Isabella. Part of it, for example:
My name is Isabella
La la la la, la la la la
My name is Isabella
I run a little della (deli)
My name is Isabella
Don't you think I'm swella?
Punctuated frequently with the "la la la" refrain.
Every time I see or hear the name, that "song" starts running through my head, so maybe my former brother-in-law prejudiced me against it early on lol.
Many years ago, when I was about 12 years old, my then brother-in-law began singing a dumb song that he was making up as he went along, a song that featured the name Isabella and that seemed to be mocking it. I can't remember what prompted him to do it. He was distorting words slightly to rhyme with Isabella. Part of it, for example:
My name is Isabella
La la la la, la la la la
My name is Isabella
I run a little della (deli)
My name is Isabella
Don't you think I'm swella?
Punctuated frequently with the "la la la" refrain.
Every time I see or hear the name, that "song" starts running through my head, so maybe my former brother-in-law prejudiced me against it early on lol.
Well the moment I divorced my bother-in-law became an outlaw; he continued dropping my name--amidst other choice words--to add insult to injury - smile.