Having doubts about my favorite

Girl Names
1

Not expecting currently, but my partner and I talk names a lot and like to be prepared.

I’m sure folks who frequent these forums know I spent a lot of time narrowing down my girl’s list, and my favorite name for close tova year now has been [name_f]Isadora[/name_f] [name_f]Eponine[/name_f].

But now I’m wondering, does [name_f]Isadora[/name_f] blend in with too many other names? I see [name_f]Isabel[/name_f]/[name_f]Isobel[/name_f]/Isabellas everywhere and while most of then go by their full name, I recently met an [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] nicknamed [name_f]Izzie[/name_f], which is my favorite nn option for [name_f]Isadora[/name_f].

It probably seems silly, but as a girl who was named [name_f]Brittany[/name_f] in 1989, I grew up pretty exasperated with the saturation my name had in my age group. [name_m]Even[/name_m] in highschool there were always at least 2 other [name_f]Brittany[/name_f]/[name_f]Britney[/name_f]/Brittanis in nearly all my classes.

So, reassurances? Recommendations?

Here are some similar names we’ve already ruled our for various reasons:
[name_f]Isolde[/name_f] (so pretty but a little short next ti brother [name_m]Archimedes[/name_m]?)
[name_f]Ismene[/name_f] (love but people seem to get confused about pronunciation)
Ismeria/Ismerie (want to love it but the sound doesn’t quite do it for me and I’m not super into the particular religious connection)
[name_f]Eudora[/name_f] (really like it but my partner wasn’t so sure)
[name_f]Theodora[/name_f] (brother’s middle is [name_m]Theodore[/name_m])
[name_f]Pandora[/name_f] (a bit overused in scifi and video games)
Callidora (don’t like [name_f]Calli[/name_f]/[name_f]Callie[/name_f])

2

I love [name_f]Isadora[/name_f]. I think it stands in a category by itself. It’s been one of my long time favorites! [name_f]Ismene[/name_f] is also beautiful. I know a few Isabellas who go by [name_f]Izzie[/name_f]/[name_u]Izzy[/name_u] so people may assume her name to be [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f]/a. I think [name_u]Dory[/name_u]/[name_f]Dorie[/name_f] also makes a very cute nn for [name_f]Isadora[/name_f].

3

I love [name_f]Isadora[/name_f]! I have always had a sweet spot for that name. I don’t think you have to worry about it blending in.

4

[name_f]Isadora[/name_f] is beautiful! If my middle child was a girl he would have been [name_f]Isadora[/name_f]. I don’t think it blends in with [name_f]Isabella[/name_f] and such. If she goes by [name_u]Izzy[/name_u] and frequently encounters other Izzys she can switch to her fill name or any of the other nickname options she has! [name_u]Isa[/name_u], [name_f]Ida[/name_f], [name_f]Sadie[/name_f], [name_f]Dorie[/name_f], [name_f]Dora[/name_f], so many possibilities!!

5

I love [name_f]Isadora[/name_f] and I don’t really think it will blend in too much. It has some distinct sounds. I also [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] [name_f]Isolde[/name_f] and the fact that it is shorter than the brother name wouldn’t bother me personally. I think the names are compatible styles and sound great together.

6

I love [name_f]Isadora[/name_f] and I think it’s very distinct in sound and appearance so it doesn’t blur into [name_f]Isabella[/name_f]/[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] etc. [name_f]Isadora[/name_f] [name_f]Eponine[/name_f] is a really lovely combo

Not sure how helpful this is, but maybe one way to think about the [name_f]Izzie[/name_f] thing is: does the popularity of [name_m]Archie[/name_m] or [name_m]Archer[/name_m] make your son’s name feel any less unique and interesting? I personally don’t think it does at all.

7

Oh I hadn’t even thought of [name_f]Ida[/name_f]! So cute. And that is a good point that if the nickname is overused she could always go by her full name. Somehow at 4 syllables [name_f]Isadora[/name_f] doesn’t seem like that much of a mouthful.

Thank you everyone for your reassurances! I think sometimes I just let anxiety get the better of me and I get too much in my own head.

8

[name_f]Isadora[/name_f] is a beautiful name! I think it’s easily distinguished from [name_f]Isabel[/name_f]/[name_f]Isabella[/name_f] et al because of the powerful “-or” sound, and I don’t think any mistakes will be made. [name_m]Even[/name_m] though there might be other girls that go by [name_u]Izzy[/name_u], most of the Isabellas I know go by [name_f]Bella[/name_f], so I don’t think you’ll have a huge problem. Another potential nickname is [name_u]Isa[/name_u]. Other than one has been mentioned, the only names I can think of as alternatives are [name_f]Adora[/name_f] and [name_f]Adoria[/name_f].

9

I’m going to be honest, I really like [name_f]Isadora[/name_f], but… I’m a teacher and I have a lot of teacher friends both locally where I live and in other states. There are A LOT of Isabellas and Isabelles and many of them do go by [name_u]Izzy[/name_u]. Some go by [name_f]Bella[/name_f]/[name_f]Belle[/name_f] and I’ve met one that goes by [name_u]Isa[/name_u] (EE-suh), which I love. But yes, many go by [name_u]Izzy[/name_u].

I completely understand your dilemma and your feelings about popularity. I also have a VERY popular name for my generation. I was always referred to by my first and last name growing up. I really hated it. I even almost got beat up by some girls because they got me confused with another girl with my same name! [name_m]Just[/name_m] recently I’ve come to peace with my name and not totally hating it (I’m in my mid-30’s), but I don’t think I’ll ever love it or even like it. So, I really do get it. Popularity was a serious concern for me as well.

Ultimately, if I were you, I would either choose a different nickname ([name_u]Isa[/name_u]? [name_u]Dory[/name_u]?) or a different name all together.

Out of your list, I like Callidora… what about [name_f]Cora[/name_f] as a nickname?

Other ideas:
[name_f]Eugenia[/name_f]/[name_f]Eugenie[/name_f]
[name_f]Beatrix[/name_f]
[name_f]Seraphine[/name_f]
[name_f]Elvira[/name_f]
[name_f]Evadne[/name_f]
[name_f]Amadora[/name_f]
[name_f]Persephone[/name_f]

10

[name_f]Isadora[/name_f] is lovely, and [name_f]Isadora[/name_f] [name_f]Eponine[/name_f] is a gorgeous combo. I do think it might be assumed that an [name_f]Izzie[/name_f] would be an [name_f]Isabel[/name_f]/le, however, I don’t think that [name_f]Izzie[/name_f] is overly common as to erase it from your list (I feel like most [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] go be [name_f]Belle[/name_f] or [name_f]Bella[/name_f] anyway?) [name_f]Isadora[/name_f] is distinct enough to mot blend in with the [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f]'s imo.

Other suggestions based on your loves (all on my own long-list): [name_f]Andromeda[/name_f], [name_f]Endellion[/name_f], [name_f]Delphine[/name_f], [name_f]Bellatrix[/name_f], [name_f]Isabeau[/name_f], [name_f]Cressida[/name_f], [name_f]Ariadne[/name_f], [name_f]Elspeth[/name_f], [name_f]Magdalene[/name_f], [name_f]Lavinia[/name_f], [name_f]Cosima[/name_f], [name_f]Amaryllis[/name_f], [name_f]Elodie[/name_f], Jocosa, [name_f]Lilith[/name_f], [name_u]Artemis[/name_u], [name_f]Jessamine[/name_f], [name_f]Tallulah[/name_f], [name_f]Mathilda[/name_f], Luscinia, [name_f]Calanthe[/name_f], [name_f]Eugenie[/name_f], [name_f]Fairuza[/name_f], [name_f]Amabel[/name_f], [name_f]Eulalie[/name_f], [name_f]Viveca[/name_f], [name_f]Fiammetta[/name_f], [name_f]Ottoline[/name_f], Terpsichore, [name_f]Zephyrine[/name_f], [name_f]Georgiana[/name_f], Sollemnia, [name_f]Araminta[/name_f], Kasimira, [name_f]Leocadia[/name_f], [name_f]Melusine[/name_f], Nausikaa, [name_f]Ceridwen[/name_f] & [name_f]Olimpiada[/name_f] (yeah, ok, I got a little carried away there…)

11

[name_f]Isadora[/name_f] is similar but very different from the overused [name_f]Isabella[/name_f]. Chances are, there will be an [name_f]Isabella[/name_f] and an [name_u]Izzy[/name_u] in her class and she will be called [name_f]Isadora[/name_f] or [name_f]Dora[/name_f] and I’m not sure how you feel about that nic name… an ‘I’ name I love is [name_f]Imogen[/name_f], it’s unique and sure it is short but it is unique enough to go with your sons name.

12

It seems like you really like names starting w/Is-, so maybe…

Isouda: I believe it’s a variant of [name_f]Isolde[/name_f]; it’s used in a Brother Cadfael mystery. IDK if [name_f]Isolde[/name_f] is pronounced w/two syllables or three, but Isouda is definitely three syllables & so is only one syllable shorter than [name_m]Archimedes[/name_m].

[name_f]Isannah[/name_f]: This was the name of [name_m]Paul[/name_m] Revere’s (I think) youngest daughter. I’ve always thought it was really pretty & very unique.

On Nameberry’s list of girls’ name that start w/I there are some Is- names as well:

[name_f]Isabeau[/name_f]
Ismeria
Isilene
Ismenia

13

Thank you all for your feedback and suggestions. Especially those who spend time in classrooms weighing in. I think I would be fine with [name_f]Dora[/name_f] as a nn too, maybe [name_f]Izzie[/name_f] at home and [name_f]Dora[/name_f] at school. I had like 3 or 4 nicknames growing up so who says it has to be the same one in all circumstances?

A lot of names that have been listed we considered at one time or another or just don’t quite appeal but Ivlove the opportunity to revisit names and see if there’s a spark. Plus there have been a few I’ve never heard of before!

14

Thank you for your very thoughtful response! I think I might just have to revisit nicknames because I really can’t shake my love for [name_f]Isadora[/name_f]. [name_f]Persephone[/name_f] is actually the other name on our short list! And I considered [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] for a long time and only passed it over because I’m not keen on any of us having the same initials. You mentioning [name_f]Cora[/name_f] kind of makes me want to revisit [name_f]Cornelia[/name_f]/[name_f]Cordelia[/name_f] as well. It seems even as picky as I am there are so many great names to consider.

15

I think [name_f]Isadora[/name_f] is fabulous! Beautiful! I don’t think it’s “just like [name_f]Isabella[/name_f]” at all. It strikes me as different and interesting, and a name you hardly hear.
The overlap in nicknames is a bit unfortunate as people might assume her name is [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] or such, but I don’t think that would stop me using [name_f]Isadora[/name_f]. It’s really a unique beauty!