Isla, Ila, Ayla, Aila....

LesleyKimball · November 2009

We are naming our DD Isla Jayde. Recently family members have been saying that we should spell it differently as to not have her name mispronounced. We want it to be pronounced eye- la. Is this how you would pronounce Isla or would you say it like it is spelled? like ees-la? I love the spelling we chose but now that she is almost here I want to be sure.

sunnyday016 · November 2009

I prefer the spelling you have-I'd pronounce it right.

With Aila or Ayla, I'd pronounce it A-lah.

losmitty · November 2009

I would definately go with Isla. Perhaps if someone hadn't heard it before they would be tempted to pronouce the s. However, I think it's becoming more common and people do know how to say it. If not, gently mention the s is silent, like the first part of Isand. That should help them remember. Ila, looks odd to me, and the others look like Ay-la (long A, not I). It's a beautiful name, congrats!

MrsMcC.10409 · November 2009

Concur with PP. Isla is pronounced eye-la. Ayla is A(as in hay)-La. It is also the name of a character from a book series - Clan of the Cave Bear which was made into a movie starring Darryl Hannah!

ValentineBB · November 2009

Stick with Isla.

Mhild · November 2009

I'm absolutely going to embarrass myself by saying this but I totally would pronounce it "is-la" Embarrassed But I've never seen that name before today (it was in another post earlier) and for some reason I just didn't think of the silent "s"...which now makes perfect sense.

I actually think "eye-la" is very pretty. And if Isla is the way it is traditionally spelt, go for it! Just know that some people who have never heard of it before (like myself) will likely pronounce it incorrectly.

KatieintheCity · November 2009

I would pronounce Isla as eye-lah. It's the best spelling, too IMO. Isla Jayde is a very pretty name.

LMS05 · November 2009

Mhild:
I'm absolutely going to embarrass myself by saying this but I totally would pronounce it "is-la" But I've never seen that name before today (it was in another post earlier) and for some reason I just didn't think of the silent "s"...which now makes perfect sense.
I actually think "eye-la" is very pretty. And if Isla is the way it is traditionally spelt, go for it! Just know that some people who have never heard of it before (like myself) will likely pronounce it incorrectly.

Don't be embarrassed. I know the first couple times I saw that name I thought it was is-la too. I know we can't be the only people who did that!

BBachmann · November 2009

I would spell it Isla.

nestinginjapan · November 2009

definitely Isla ... people will get the hang of it. it's like "island"

I love that name!

funnibaby · November 2009

I've never seen the name spelled any other way, but someone had to tell me how to pronounce it when I first encountered the name. I wouldn't go with a Youneek spelling to appease relatives.

Heather

j_luvs_r · November 2009

Isla. Don't change the spelling. Sure, people who are just reading may mispronounce it, but your DD will just correct them and move on. Not a big deal.

pinkflipflops44 · November 2009

Stick with Isla.

Rory419 · November 2009

Definitely Isla! It is such a beautiful name and becoming more known. Traditional is the way to go I think; just changed our LO's spelling to a more traditional one

AllieBelle1 · December 2009

I actually went to school with a girl named Ila Mae (who was named after another Ila Mae) and so I am more familiar with that spelling.

Marjory11 · December 2009

Isla Jayde is a BEAUTIFUL name! (Isla is actually on our list too!) I would stick with your original spelling because that's part of what makes it so pretty. I think most people will pronounce it correctly because of the actress. The rest will probably be split almost evenly between pronouncing it eye-la or is-la. If they say it wrong, you can just tell them it's eye-la like eye-land, and they'll get it.