Will people know how to say her name?

hf08 · October 2014

Hi Ladies!

How do you pronounce Isla?

It is our top name choice, but I know one many may not know how to pronounce (I didn't until recently). Just getting an idea how many...

TIA!!!

brownmouse · October 2014

Yes, and I'm sure you only have to tell them once if they don't already know.

Manateearmz · October 2014

They should! It's gaining popularity.

Cheekers2010 · October 2014

It's getting pretty well known so I don't see why not.

minirella · October 2014

eye-la (is how I pronounce it)

[Deleted User] · October 2014

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Maebb · October 2014

I was hoping for entertainment value that this would be a ridiculous name, but Isla is pretty, and most people would know how to pronounce it. I like it!

RayRay007 · October 2014

I know a lady who named her daughter Isla last year and has complained at least once on Facebook that someone didn't know how to pronounce it but I wouldn't let that deter you. I'd think most people know. Dd is Amelia and someone couldn't get that right just yesterday so no matter what you name her you'll probably get some of that.

hf08 · October 2014

Thanks, ladies!! Love hearing your opinions and happy to hear more!

When asking my friends, only half knew it. Only one knew of an Isla irl. Hopefully it will catch on here. I agree pronunciation is an issue with almost any name. I have an "Anna" who regularly gets called "Hannah" or "onna". It doesn't bother me - just as long as it isn't all the time.

hf08 · October 2014

Maebb said:
I was hoping for entertainment value that this would be a ridiculous name, but Isla is pretty, and most people would know how to pronounce it. I like it!

Lol! Hate to leave you disappointed!;) When I was a teacher, I knew a "Clamidia", a "Krismas" and siblings named "Chandler" and "Ross" (Mom said it was after friends).

TashaPlusNika · October 2014

I don't see why people wouldn't say it properly, maybe you'll hear a mispronunciation once or twice, but don't let it get you down! It's a really pretty name

hf08 · October 2014

Thanks! We really like it:)

TashaPlusNika · October 2014

hf08 said:

Thanks! We really like it:)

I've always had a soft spot for the name. It's become more popular over the years but not such that you see it everywhere, just enough for people to be able to pronounce it properly.

I'm due in December, we're having a boy, but had we been told we're having a girl, it'd be difficult as the only girl name husband and I agree on is Siobhan, but I don't think people would pronounce it properly most of the time (nor do I blame them, I guess), and they'd certainly never spell it right, so it'd be a no from the get-go, sadly

hf08 · October 2014

TashaPlusNika said:

hf08 said:

Thanks! We really like it:)

I've always had a soft spot for the name. It's become more popular over the years but not such that you see it everywhere, just enough for people to be able to pronounce it properly.

I'm due in December, we're having a boy, but had we been told we're having a girl, it'd be difficult as the only girl name husband and I agree on is Siobhan, but I don't think people would pronounce it properly most of the time (nor do I blame them, I guess), and they'd certainly never spell it right, so it'd be a no from the get-go, sadly

Congrats on your baby boy! We really thought this LO was going to be a boy and were set on "Jude". Girl names are much harder for us, esp since we've already named 2;)

Maebb · October 2014

Haven't most people heard of the actress Isla Fisher? Maybe that's why I think of it as a more common name.

hf08 · October 2014

Maebb said:
Haven't most people heard of the actress Isla Fisher? Maybe that's why I think of it as a more common name.

Most people I've asked irl who can't pronounce Isla do know Isla Fisher when I bring that up and get it right away.

[Deleted User] · October 2014

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ZooCrewMom · October 2014

I think no matter what you select people are going to botch it sometimes. My first name is French and ends in aux, which has caused me many laughs in my life. I find how people say it is a good way to weed out people who are totally clueless. Your daughter will just have to correct people, which is really no big deal. It's a pretty, legit name - I'd go for it!

cookiedough22 · October 2014

Before I read this post I thought of Isla. And when typing the name my iPhone recognized it!

hf08 · October 2014

Thanks, ladies!

hf08 · October 2014

cookiedough22 said:
Before I read this post I thought of Isla. And when typing the name my iPhone recognized it!

Yay!!!

shindylahoe · October 2014

Im one of the rare people who have a hard time remembering how to pronounce Isla. But once I figure it out I love it.

thompnia · October 2014

Until recetly, I thought it was pronounced eez-la. But now I know better

alexis.arnone · October 2014

When we lived in Guam it was a very common name but it is pronounced Eesla there so that's how I would say it.

hf08 · October 2014

Thanks everyone! I'm getting 50/50 for "eye-la" and "is-la" irl, so glad to see it is catching on more than it seems here.

AthenaNabi · October 2014

I have no idea how to say that name. That doesn't mean it's not a good name though, if you like it.

hf08 · October 2014

Niamh is pretty!

Thanks to you both for the feedback!

Serunatu · October 2014

Isla is my top name choice, also. It is not very popular at all where I'm from. When I tell people they usually ask how I will spell it and when I say I-S-L-A about 30% give me a questionable look. I've said, "like island" and they seem to understand lol.

hf08 · October 2014

Serunatu said:
Isla is my top name choice, also. It is not very popular at all where I'm from. When I tell people they usually ask how I will spell it and when I say I-S-L-A about 30% give me a questionable look. I've said, "like island" and they seem to understand lol.

Yes, I've had several people recommend spelling it differently but it is a legit name and I want the legit spelling!;)

kellyfo14 · October 2014

I occasionally have to correct people with DD'S name. She is Lyla pronounced L-eye-la. I kind of wanted to spell it Lilah and I think that would have been easier when reading it off a paper but DH liked the Lyla spelling. She very occasionally gets Leela and there are a couple people in my family (who should definitely know better) spell her name wrong on birthday cards. But honestly it is an easy correction as long as you don't make someone feel like a jerk for mispronouncing it. Isla is a beautiful name! You may have very occasional confusion but nothing difficult to handle.

Edit: spelling

ghostof5letters · October 2014

Only if their massive 1980's Madonna fans.

SanRemo · October 2014

hf08 said:

Thanks, ladies!! Love hearing your opinions and happy to hear more! When asking my friends, only half knew it. Only one knew of an Isla irl. Hopefully it will catch on here. I agree pronunciation is an issue with almost any name. I have an "Anna" who regularly gets called "Hannah" or "onna". It doesn't bother me - just as long as it isn't all the time.

I must be the screwy one. I always pronounce Anna as Onna, I don't know why but it just works better for me. I also read Isla as ees-la. The main one that I have problems with is Penelope, I see it as pen-a-loupe like cantaloupe. Op it is a really pretty name, don't let people like me stop you from using it.

hf08 · October 2014

Thanks, Kellyfo!
Ghost of 5, I know!;)

hf08 · October 2014

SanRemo said:

hf08 said:

Thanks, ladies!! Love hearing your opinions and happy to hear more!

When asking my friends, only half knew it. Only one knew of an Isla irl. Hopefully it will catch on here. I agree pronunciation is an issue with almost any name. I have an "Anna" who regularly gets called "Hannah" or "onna". It doesn't bother me - just as long as it isn't all the time.

I must be the screwy one. I always pronounce Anna as Onna, I don't know why but it just works better for me. I also read Isla as ees-la. The main one that I have problems with is Penelope, I see it as pen-a-loupe like cantaloupe.

Op it is a really pretty name, don't let people like me stop you from using it.

Not screwy! Onna and ees-la are legit pronunciations! Those don't bother me;)

MommyKristin88 · October 2014

I don't know that name or the actress you all mentioned. I would never look at that and pronounce it the way you say it should be. However, pick whatever name you want. My name is very common (Kristin) and I get called Christina, Christian, Christa, or some other variation on a daily basis. Somebody will always screw up a name.

hf08 · October 2014

Thanks, MommyKristen! I say it "eye-la".

I agree! I think all of the creative name spellings people are using now is making it harder for people to pronounce even the most traditionally spelled names.

Caraluvs · October 2014

Eye-la. People don't say is-land, they say eye-land. If people have a hard time remembering, just remind them of that word.

Bigboneded · October 2014

I would say Ees-lah. Like "La Isla Bonita",
and when corrected, I would remember it is Eye-lah. So not hard :-) I grew up in a neighborhood that was more Spanish influence than Scottish, though ;-)

jacqueleen1 · November 2014

IS- LAH is how i pronounced it when i read it

kesrya · November 2014

Beautiful name !!!

And people will learn how to say it right if they don't know off the bat.

We named our son Leif. In 'Murica everyone says it "Leaf". In the Scandinavian countries where the name originates from it's said "Layf" (actually Layfr, which my mother and sister-in-law instinctively starting calling my son as his nickname when he was a few months old, and now that is what he prefers).

Most people say it wrong the first time. I correct them, they get it right from there on out. Now my son, at 3 1/2, takes it upon himself to correct people.

I've encountered a few idiots who I have to say it over and over again to, then spell it, and then they say, "Oh, you mean Leaf" to which I reply "No, I mean Layf". But they are in the minority. And you know who always get it right the first time without having to have it repeated ever - immigrants or American citizens who immigrated from a foreign country ... maybe because they are used to hearing "unusual" names from their respective homelands.

The only person who still can't get it right after being told every single week for the last 6 months -- the librarian at the local toddler storytime. Go figure a librarian wouldn't be able to figure out simply linguistics.

ruemorgan · November 2014

My first guess was eyes-la. But the silent s makes sense now that I read through the thread. Beautiful name, I vote who cares if people pronounce it wrong.

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