We’re expecting our 2nd, a little girl, in just 6wks and I am going crazy trying to decide on her name! My dh “gave in” to my favorite, [name]Isla[/name] [name]Joy[/name], because he was tired of talking about names (who could ever tire of baby names?! lol). His biggest objection with it is the misspelling/mispronunciation of the name he foresees in her future. I don’t disagree but [name]LOVE[/name] the name. We’re from a small rural county where most of never even HEARD this name, so I know it will be an issue. Which is why I’m trying to decide between the “I” or “E” spelling of the name, thinking [name]Eila[/name] would be easier. BTW, her 11 month old brother (yes, we’re nuts, having 2 in 12mths!) is [name]Atlas[/name] [name]Alexander[/name], which people either love or hate, no middle ground.
So, should we go with [name]Isla[/name] or [name]Eila[/name]? I’m at the point where I’m ready to scrap it and look for something else, that’s how much it’s bothering me!! Help, please!!
Other names I like but dh nixed:
[name]Anwen[/name] [name]Bellamy[/name] [name]Bronwen[/name] [name]Bryony[/name] [name]Echo[/name] [name]Ellery[/name] [name]Elsa[/name] [name]Emery[/name] Everlee
[name]Lyric[/name] Maylin [name]Reagan[/name] Scilla [name]Tennyson[/name] [name]Willow[/name] [name]Winter[/name]
I think [name]Isla[/name] will serve her better long term. The silent s really isn’t that weird, she can always say “it’s like the word island” or “the s is silent”. [name]Eila[/name] has its own spelling and prn issues, and I think [name]Isla[/name] will be more popular with more time. She may live in your small country town now but who knows where life will take her.
If you want to not use [name]Isla[/name], I actually recommend Aila over [name]Eila[/name]. Aila is a Finnish name with history. It is pronounced just like [name]Isla[/name]. Maybe [name]Eila[/name] has history I don’t know about, but I think Aila looks less invented than [name]Eila[/name]. Aila also starts with A, which is a pretty and popular letter and I think people put off by the lack of familiarity with the name will kind of like it because of that familiar look. I recognize people may pronounce it [name]Ayla[/name], but that might happen with [name]Eila[/name] too and with [name]Eila[/name] you might get Eela.
I also think it’s simple enough to explain that "it’s [name]Isla[/name], like the start of “island.” Some people will recognize it as the name of [name]Isla[/name] [name]Fisher[/name], the actress from Wedding Crashers and other movies. And [name]IMO[/name] [name]Atlas[/name] and [name]Isla[/name] look much better together than [name]Atlas[/name] and [name]Eila[/name]. I say [name]Isla[/name]!
I agree with all the previous posters - [name]Isla[/name] as in Island! [name]Atlas[/name] and [name]Isla[/name] are beautiful! Go with your heart! All the best
