See the results of this poll: Which do you prefer?
Respondents: 41 (This poll is closed)
- Ishbel : 11 (27%)
- Ismay: 30 (73%)
[name_f]Ishbel[/name_f]. It’s kind of a dumb reason, but I love the ‘sh’ sounds in names. Lol.
I chose [name_f]Ismay[/name_f] for the exact opposite reason; I’m not a fan of ‘sh’ in names (especially girls) haha. Also I’m so used to [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] etc, I’m almost expecting [name_f]Ishbel[/name_f] to be 3 syllables, and it sounds odd to my ears being only two.
I haven’t been able to vote yet as I can’t decide which I like more… They both have a lovely ‘old Scottish’ feel to me - is that correct? I like the sounds in both, and like that they are both rarely used.
@araminty Yes, [name_f]Ishbel[/name_f] is old Scottish and [name_f]Ismay[/name_f] is used in [name_f]Scotland[/name_f] though its origins are either old [name_m]French[/name_m] or Anglo-[name_m]Saxon[/name_m], depending on which source you trust.
Interesting to see [name_f]Ismay[/name_f] doing so well! I think I lean towards [name_f]Ishbel[/name_f] myself but the close similarity to [name_f]Isabel[/name_f] does put me off. It would probably be a bit of a pain to be an [name_f]Ishbel[/name_f], lovely though it is!
[name_f]Ishbel[/name_f] just makes me think of a feminised [name_m]Ishmael[/name_m] so while I’m sure [name_f]Ishbel[/name_f] has a lovely, long history, I’m just thinking of [name_m]Moby[/name_m] [name_m]Dick[/name_m].
[name_f]Ishbel[/name_f] just sounds like another [name_f]Isabel[/name_f] variation to me, plus I prefer [name_f]Ismay[/name_f]'s cute sound