DH really, really likes this name for a baby girl.
I googled and it looks like it was #1 in popularity in recent years. I was surprised, because I've never known anyone by that name before. However, I don't have much exposure to kids.
So, how popular is it? For those of you with kids- are there like 4-5 Isabellas in every first grade class?

DOR and AMA
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Re: Isabella?
I don't have children, but I do a lot of babysitting. I've never met a little girl named Isabella, but I do live in a small town.
Also, I don't care how popular the name is. It's a lovely name. The only thing that would keep me from using it is the connection to Twilight.
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Thanks for the feedback. His other option was Sophia. Which, I come to find out is also popular. I always think of it in a more old fashioned context as my grandma and great aunt were both named Sophie.
DOR and AMA
2/12-5/12: 4 IUI cycles = all BFN;
7/12: DE IVF # 1 (with ICSI)- 20R, 16M, 14F, 5DT of 2 blasts; 6 frosties = BFN;
Lupus anticoagulant initially high, then found to be normal on hematology consult;
Follow up testing in September all clear;
Started synthroid for "high normal" TSH;
FET # 1- late October 2012- BFP on FRER; beta # 1- 21(low), beta # 2- 48 (still low), beta # 3- 132, beta # 4- 1,293; beta # 5- 5,606; last beta- over 100,000. First u/s 11/21- heard heartbeat
12/12- Officially an OB patient!
Level 2 ultrasound at 20 weeks shows vasa previa and VCI
Referral to MFM and mandatory c section for delivery
Beautiful baby girl born at 34 weeks
Finally home after 15 day NICU stay!
Trying for sibling: FET # 2- May 2014; beta 5/31, BFN
FET #3, early July 2014; beta 7/14, BFN
DE IVF # 2- August 2014; 14R, 13M, 11F, 5dt of 2 blasts (3 AA), 5 frosties = BFN
FET #4- December 2014, yet another BFN
Dr. KK work up shows borderline uterine blood flow, elevated NK cells, and MTHFR mutation (homozygous for c677t)
Added baby aspirin, prednisone, supplements, Metanx, and intralipids
Switched to large clinic for final attempt; had endometrial receptivity testing in January; FET March 2015 = yet another BFN
Likely OAD- NBC
The good news? Isabella and Sofia/ Sophia are both really pretty, really feminine names that will never go out of style.
The bad news? They are both insanely, insanely popular. If that doesn't bother you-- either name is a nice choice.
Are you open to suggestions? What about:
Gabriella
Natalia
Sasha
Angelina
Selena
Cecilia
Noelle
Annabel
Jenna
Gianna
BFP 1- EDD 2/09/11 Missed MC DX @11 weeks D&C- 7/25/10 BFP 2- EDD 12/22/11 Natural MC @ 5w 2d BFP 3- EDD 1/25/12 DD Josephine born 1/16/12
I know it's popular because it's on all the lists but I don't know of any in real life. Not in my family, friends or sons' friends or school.
Personally, I don't really care how popular names are if I love them. I would use it if you love it.
As others have said - it's crazy popular (along with Sophia).
In my generation, the top names were Jennifer and Ashley - nearly 10% of my class (or 20% of the girls in my class) were named Ashley - myself included (although different spelling) and there were about 5 Jennifers. As a result, I run far away from the Top 10 names - but most especially the top 2!
Extremely popular here. I know at least 5 under the age of 3.
There are a million Izzy's and Bella's around here. That is why we are not going with Isabel (although I love it)
ETA: Sophie/Sofia is as well. I know 8 under the age of 3
--Formerly FamiliaGreen--
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Love these names!
Isabelle/Isobel/Isabel was our top pick for a girl, which is unusual for me, as I generally don't like overly trendy names. One can't deny that it's beautiful.
I definitely think it is way to overused. But, maybe as a middle name?
I am so over this name.
I know hundreds of Isabellas. Literally. Hundreds.
In DS's playgroup alone there are 5 variations of "Bella-Ella"s
So over it.
I much prefer Sophia.
Isabella is so fussy to me (anything of the variation, like Rosabella, Anabella, etc) is so fussy to me.
Sophia, which it is popular, isn't as frilly, IMO, so it's lovelier to me.
Hi! I'm in Chicago too! You don't know any because you don't have exposure to kids. There are TONS of Isabellas. There will likely be 2 or three in her class/ daycare. Same with Sophia. Ava and Ella are also really popular. Isabella and Sophia are both beautiful names and coming up with names that both you and DH like can be HARD, if you really love it, use it. I have a friend who has both an Isabella and a Sophia.
Most of our generation run away from top names because we grew up in a sea of Jennifers, where there were 5 Jennifers in every classroom. But being the #1 name now, isn't quite the same as it was then.
In the year I was born, the #1 name was Jennifer with 4.0297% of girls born that year being given that name. In 2011 the #1 name was Sophia at 1.1297%, and #2 was Isabella at 1.0282%. So it's likely there will be 2 or 3 in her grade, not 5 or 6.