Anne writes:
Hi Swistle,
I am a first time mom expecting the arrival of a baby girl on October 2nd. We have been thinking of names without really falling in love, but have finally agreed on one we both really like: Isobel.
I love the spelling, as we both have Scottish heritage and I spent a fondly remembered semester in Scotland during college. Here is my concern, our last name is Wells. Is this too rhymey? Should I not worry because she would likely be called Izzy?
Other names we have considered are Zelda (the name of my paternal grandmother, also a bit rhymey), Martha, Abigail (I don’t love it enough to overcome the popularity factor), and Ivy (which I love, but was the first name of my husband’s abusive, alcoholic grandfather).
So, could Isobel Wells be given the green light with the right middle name? Help! I need some reassurance that our daughter’s name won’t sound like it came from a Dr. Suess book!
Thank you for your help!
Isobel Wells has a slightly rhymey sound to me, but nothing in the Dr. Seuss range. I would be inclined to advise you to go ahead and use it, except that many -bel/-bella names end up going by Bella, and I am not as fond of the sound of Bella Wells. Perhaps the surname would be enough to prevent that nickname and she WOULD always be Izzy, but it’s hard to know what will happen with nicknames.
I am also alerted by your sentence about not loving Abigail enough to overcome the popularity factor. The name Isobel/Isabelle/Isabella was a bit of a popularity phenomenon, running up the charts so quickly it caught the notice even of people not interested in baby names. I think it’s likely that your statement about Abigail tells us that you DO love the name Isobel enough to overcome the popularity factor, but thought I should mention it just in case. Searching for Isobel in the Social Security Administration’s data base would bring up the misleading information that it was not in the Top 1000, which doesn’t give a good indication of how popular the name FEELS with Isabella in the Top 10 for the last decade. The other names on your list show me that in general you’d prefer an uncommon name.
I wonder if Isadora would be a better fit. It’s quite uncommon; it has the nickname Izzy; there are no rhyminess issues. Isadora Wells.
Or Imogen, with the nickname Immy.
Zelda Wells also passes the Dr. Seuss test for me, and it avoid the issues with the nickname Bella. I like that it’s a family name. My only hesitation would be the popular Zelda video game series, but it’s a cool association rather than a negative one.
It’s too bad about Ivy. Do you like Iris or Ida or Irene or Eileen? Or perhaps something like Genevieve with the nickname Evie.
Would you want to revisit the idea of Martha? I notice it’s the only name on your list without an issue after it in parentheses. Martha Wells has no rhyminess at all, and the name Martha is quite uncommon at #803 in 2013.
[Edited to add:] Or would you like Ruth? I’ve encountered two little girls named Ruth over the last few years and it struck me very positively. Both of them often go by Ruthie. Ruth Wells, Ruthie Wells.
I like all the names on your list but it sounds as if Isobel is the one you really love. So I’d go with that one even though it is a little rhymey. I think the fact that the first name and last name have different numbers of syllables makes it work.
I went to high school with an Isabelle who went by Is – it was the edgy early 90s, but I always thought it was very cool. There’s also the Isabelle played by Selma Hayek in Fools Rush In who went by Isa “eeesah” which is very cute. I love the Isobel spelling and I think you could avoid the Bella nickname just because so many other kiddos are using it now.
I do think that the right nickname could help cut the rhyming, if that’s the only hesitation. Perhaps there’s a favourite place in Scotland that you could use as a middle name? At least here in the South a lot of parents use both names quite a bit!
Zelda is adorable, too – I think it’s equally rhymey without being super Seussian and I think it helps that it has a family connection, too!
I also love the suggestion of Imogen, nn. Immy or even Ginny. So cute, kinda vintage and underused. Some sources claim that it has a Celtic connection to the Gaelic inghean (girl, maiden), kind of like the Irish name Colleen, so there’s a bit of a nod to Scotland?
Maybe since Ivy is out, you could consider other simple botanical names like Lily and Lilah, Violet or Hazel.
Good luck! You have a lovely list of names to choose from!!
According to Name Nerds’ compilation of all spellings of Isobel the name would actually come in at a ranking of 58 with 5744 births for the year 2012. I do not know if that is too popular for you. It is however significant less popular than Abigail as it came in the top 10 with almost three times as many babies being given that name. i really love the feel of Ivy, I would suggest trying to find a name with a similar feel that you may also fall in love with such as Laurel, Hazel, Iris, Violet, etc. If you really love the nn Izzy I would consider Isadora as well which is surprisingly uncommon and refreshing.
Is that just spellings of Isobel, not including the Isabellas?
Yes correct not including any spellings that end in an -ah sound
I don’t think it is too rhyme-y at all. Bella Wells would have a bit too much rhyme going on, but people will mostly call her what you call her, so I don’t think you would have to worry too much about that.
Isobel is my favorite spelling of Isabelle, very elegant.
A little girl I know named Isabelle goes by the nickname of Isa, pronounced Ee’ sa, which I believe is a popular German nickname for Isabelle.
Have you considered Isabeau? Much less popular, and eliminates the rhyme with Wells (though it isn’t such a disagreeable rhyme, I agree with Swistle.)
If you like Isobel I think you should use it. It may not be ideal with the last name, but it is certainly not Dr. Seuss territory. However, I do think you might be disappointed with the popularity of all the Isobel/Isabella style names. Combined with all the Elle/Ella type names and the other Bell/Bella names, it is a very common name goup.
I do love the nickname Isadora for you.
Abigail & Martha are both lovely. They avoid the rhyming problem and aren’t too popular. Abigail on its own is, but doesn’t strike me as being part of a much larger group of sound-alike names like Isobel.
Zelda Wells is Dr. Seuss category for me, sorry. I think the combination of video game character + rhyme pushes this one over the edge for me.
I like the suggestions Swistle offered in place of Ivy. I also thought of Isla for you. Has some of the feel of Ivy + the Scottish connection of Isobel.
Another Scottish-influenced option starting with I: Iona
I don’t think Isobel Wells is really all that rhymey. It’s one of those “sort ofs/almosts.. but not.” So if you love it, you should go for it.
It sounds like you don’t want her to be called Izzy? Just don’t call her Izzy if that is the case. These days I find most people are unlikely to shorten a name on their own (ie James is James, not Jim, Jimmy, Jimsie, or Jamie – unless they specifically say so).
FWIW, Isabelle and variants are at 5,356 and Isabella and variants are at 17,940 (children in the US). At least that’s what I got when I looked at the Beyond the 1000 from the SSA.
I have a cousin whose daughter is named Isobel. I love the name but unfortunately I always get confused and call her Isabella. And I’m a name nerd who pays attention to such things. If that would bother you, I would look into other options.
Isobel Wells sounds just fine to me. Not to rhymey at all.
Elizabeth or Eliza with the nn Izzy sound great too. Elizabeth Wells nn Izzy is great! Elizabeth Anne perhaps?
I thing using initials to get to the nn Izzy is a great idea too. Imogen Zelda is adorable! Imogen Zara or Isla Zoe are pretty too.
What about Isolde, Giselle, Ismay, Izarra or Thisbe?
Good luck!
I love Isobel and Zelda, but would find them too rhymey for me to use – although I probably would not notice on a kid since I don’t use my friend’s last names too frequently with their children anyway. I wonder if a teacher would feel differently. That said, I almost want to pressure you into using Zelda since it is such a great name. I also love the suggestions of Isadora and Isabeau. Isadora in particular.
I like Isobel and don’t think the rhyme with Wells is a problem. It seems like a key difference between Isabelle and Abigail in terms of popularity is that Abby is ONLY on trend nickname for Abigail right now…I doubt there’s many little Gails running around on playgrounds. An Isabelle, or an Isobel, who wants to be different can choose between Izzy, Isa, Bella, or full on Isabelle.
Also, since the mom prefers the nickname Izzy, the only way Bella Wells would happen is if the little girl wants it to.
I really like the name Isla for you. Isla Wells – a beautiful Scottish name that begins with “I” and avoids some of the popularity issues. The reason I say “some” of the popularity issues is because of how quickly it is rising on the charts. I don’t have the feeling that it is destined for the kind of surge that Abigail and Isabella have had but Swistle is better qualified to determine the probable future of the name.
Isla Wells is also what I was going to suggest.
I third the suggestion of Isla. That’s what immediately came to my mind.
I love the name Isobel Wells. The fact that it rhymes only makes me like it even more and I don’t usually like names that rhyme! I like the Isa nickname the best, though Izzy is very cute as well. I don’t really care for Bella, probably because of the twilight movies.
To me, Zelda Wells just sounds like it goes together very well. I don’t know that I’d even realize it rhymed because it’s subtle. The video game association would not bother me. I love the name Halo for a girl despite the video game.
Ivy is very pretty, but it sounds like it carries negative memories for you. If it was me, I wouldn’t use it because of that, but if it doesn’t bother you too much I think it’s a lovely name. Ivy Wells sounds and looks very nice.
Congratulations on your daughter!
Would Ilvy work or does that still remind you of Ivy. The i sound is different.
I think Isobel is fine with your last name and as long as the popularity doesn’t worry you then go for it. I’m from Australia so it may be different were you are but the amount of Isobel, Isabelle’s, and Isabella’s here is huge my daughter has 2 in her class, my son has 1 in his class and just off the top of my head I know at least 10 but have come across a lot more but saying that its a lovely name so probably why its so popular!
I also put my vote in for Isla! And suggest Ada, Eva and Willow. Good luck xx
Martha is an interesting choice among the Ivy, Isobel, Abigail options. I think Marta is a cute, modern take on the name too.
Your popularity comment makes me hesitate. If I were a teacher/classmate/new friend, I would hear Isabel/Isabelle/Isabella–not the lovely Isobel. BUT! Isobel would make the most gorgeous middle name!
Your tribute name of Zelda is worthy of a squeal of delight! Zelda Isobel Wells sounds downright musical… like a choir of bell towers ringing out a wedding or holiday across a valley of green meadows. Fresh, pure, joyous! Zelda comes with the spunky nickname of Zee (which is reminiscent of Izzy) that feels free and able to transition nicely from preschool years into her own motherhood.
You’ve got some great name taste! Please let us know what you decide after your darling daughter arrives! Best wishes!
Thank you to Swistle and all of the commenters! You have given me some great feedback and a lot to consider. We have 13 weeks until this baby arrives – I will definitely update when a decision has been made!
We have a 5-month-old named Martha (after a Marta!) and we love, love, love it. It was a dark horse name contender and I was a bit nervous about going for a choice that really isn’t back yet (though it’s a classic, of course). But it’s so easy to use, I’ve had some really positive reactions, and even I’ve been surprised at how sweet it is on a baby girl. Love that you’re considering it!