Just forming my response with the same tact and discretion I've come to recognize as acceptable behavior amongst the majority of women here.
Thanks!
More than half of the responses in this thread alone are judgey. If it stings to be on the other end of that, perhaps that's indicative it's time for some reflection.
Can you just name her Eileen and use the nick name Eiley?
This. This was my grandma's name/what she went by and she was Finnish. I know you said you don't care for it but in reality you wouldn't use it much and then she has a more adult sounding name to go by for practical purposes.
LFAF/Nov 16 challenge: Bad TV moms that shouldn't be celebrated
BFP #1 10/30/15 MMC found 11/30/15 D&C 12/11/15 EDD 7/9/16
healing comes in waves, and maybe today the wave hits the rocks and that’s ok, that’s ok, darling. you are still healing, you are still healing- Ijeoma Umebinyuo, be gentle with yourself BFP #2 3/21 EDD 11/28/16
Just forming my response with the same tact and discretion I've come to recognize as acceptable behavior amongst the majority of women here.
Thanks!
More than half of the responses in this thread alone are judgey. If it stings to be on the other end of that, perhaps that's indicative it's time for some reflection.
And yet everyone but you managed to avoid name calling.
LOL. I was already ready for the negative, judgey and rude responses. I'm not naming my daughter Evelyn, or Brigette, or Caroline... or some other cookie cutter name. (I'm not saying those aren't perfectly fine names they just aren't mine or my husband's style. And there is NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT.) I was asking for suggestions on spelling, not your opinions on the name or your attempts at trying to talk me and my husband out of it. (Though thank you for the people that do like the name. Y'all are sweet.) I may be a terrible person for naming my daughter something original (I highly doubt it) but if anything, it'll give her some character and maybe even be a great conversation starter.
To those that did give their suggestions on spelling and attempted to help me out, thank you.
The reasons why my husband prefers the original spelling of a region on this big ol' beautiful globe is beyond me or anyone else. Maybe if the time comes, we will go with a different spelling. But if we don't. So be it. We aren't naming our child Adolf or Nutella. I think she'll be fine. LOL.
Thanks for the help with our whisky region inspired daughter name. In a perfect world, it'll be a great sibset with our gamer tag inspired son name.
I don't think there's anything wrong with having been turned onto a name because of a whisky (remember, in Canada and Scotland it's whisky with no e ). It's also the name of an island. The name Isla is crazy popular right now, what's the difference? People are going to mispronounce that too, but then they'll get used to it.
Good luck and congrats on your baby!
Thank you! I always forget the e or no e thing. I'm not the whisk(e)y lover. Soley the hubs. I can't stand the stuff. Y'know how everyone usually has that ONE alcohol they just can't stomach? Usually 'cuz they had a bad drunk on it and anytime they see or smell it it comes back in flashbacks? LOL. Yep. That's mine. Hilarious, right? Looking forward to hearing the responses to that.
houston, tx. eharmony 7.3.11. married 3.7.15. oilfield wife.
My 2 cents: The name itself is fine. Good for you for finding something you love and sticking with it. Ailee/Eiley all make sense as spellings. But Islay just isn't going to work if you want people to call her "eye-lee". I consider myself well-read. I have a graduate degree. I've lived in multiple countries (English & non-English speaking). Elin? Check. Aoife? Got it. Boudewijn? Yup. But Islay is just totally counterintuitive with the pronunciation. I mean, you've got the S in there plus the -ay to overcome. The closest people will get is "eye-lay". And those are the people who actually think of the name Isla before they try to say it. When you have people getting confused by Craig/Greg, Islay isn't going to get you your desired result.
Experiment: have your husband go to Starbucks and tell them his name is "eye-lee" and see what they write on the cup. Maybe you'll get some good ideas of how people would spell it and maybe you'll be able to prove to him that none of those spellings is Islay.
Fwiw. Eileen was given to 391 girls last year, and once you add up the spelling as suggested you get, 391 girls last year named some form of Aili/Ailey/Eiley/Eylee/Eili/Eisley/Eylie/Islay/Isley. So, I wouldn’t exactly call it unique, as Eileen is rank 711, not high, but still well within the top 1000.
I like the Starbucks test run idea. Also, if you work-- ask your boss or hiring manager what they think of the name. I would also try some random things out on the folks in the street. I'm serious. You will get some good feed back.
I understand you like the name, but you do understand that naming the kid is not about you or your husband right? Its about picking a name that the child has to live with for the rest of their life. Live with, work with and deal with peers with. Cookie-cutter might seem boring, but its a lot easier than an off-the-cuff made-up name. A child with a cookie-cutter name can be more unique than a boring special snowflake named kid. Individuals are individuals. I've known some boring Reighbeaus and some very entertaining, funny and memorable women named Charlotte or Evelyn.
Also, the average person is a judgey beast. Most try to deny it, but they will judge you by your kids name and if you do a special snowflake spelling they might judge your intelligence. If you name your kid from an island you've never been to and have no connection to-- just a bottle of o' booze for inspiration. Well, people may judge you (and by extension your kid) for these things. Is it right? Probably not. It does happen though.
You say you don't care and you dig your heels in. Stubborn won't mean anything when your kid comes home crying because no one can pronounce their name and they are making fun of her.
The Starbucks test run experiment is definitely an interesting idea. Maybe I'll be able to talk DH into trying it on his next visit...
I understand all y'all's arguments on kids with you-neek names being bullied or having their lives in some other way affected by their different name. I get it. I totally get it. However, I do feel that there may be some dramatization going on here. I don't feel like that is the case with a name like this. As @Bringmemylongswordho felt so important to share, it really isn't that unique. Many other PP's have mentioned hearing this name or knowing someone with this name. Regardless of spelling. I don't feel like it's that off the wall. I just don't agree.
Also, FWIW, I know I mentioned the inspiration for the name being a whisky region and my husband's hobby of different types of alcohol. And now y'all are using the argument that there is no other significant meaning to the name ("an island you've never been to or have no connection to" - which again... islay is a region, not one special island), but just because that was the main thing that gave us the idea for this name that doesn't mean that's the only inspiration for it. FWIW, my mother's side of my family is Scottish, with ancestors from the Isle of Mull. Which I've been to (like it matters.) I've always liked the idea of a Scottish or Irish name but have never really fallen in love with one. Islay is not that crazy.
FWIW.
houston, tx. eharmony 7.3.11. married 3.7.15. oilfield wife.
If any of you have other ideas for spellings that start with an "I" I could possibly talk him into one of those. He seems to feel strongly about starting with an "I". Idkw. My husband is a particular creature. Props to you if you and your husband agree on names easier than us.
Isley is another option he was ok with. I'm not sure this would be better though because of my knowing someone with this last name and it being pronounced "Eye-zlee." Maybe I'm biased because of this. Idk.
houston, tx. eharmony 7.3.11. married 3.7.15. oilfield wife.
It seems like you are really trying to convince all of us that this is a good name for your daughter, which is pointless. You need to decide if this is the name you want, but all the opinions stated in this post are opinions of real people in the real world, where your daughter will wear the name. She will encounter people everyday with similar opinions to the people here, looks like some people will love her name and lots will not and most people won't know how to say it. You need to decide if you still want to name her that knowing these are the kind of opinions people will have about her name, and don't waste your energy trying to change the minds of the people posting here.
Islay is that crazy if you have to spend pages defending it to perfect strangers. I'm sorry, you wanted feedback and you got it. If you want to name your kid that name then go for it, but I promise you all the thoughts in this thread will be an on-going thing throughout her life.
This is exhausting much like I picture you, your daughter and family will be after explaining this name for the next however many years. You have a bunch of answers. I'd cut my loses and go perseverate over them some more. You don't care about the opinions on this board, I would stop addressing them. I don't think there are any other options that can be offered without creating new letters.
It's a pretty name in theory but in actual execution of seems like a headache. You seem to like a good debate. Hopefully your daughter will be as dogged.
The Starbucks test run experiment is definitely an interesting idea. Maybe I'll be able to talk DH into trying it on his next visit...
I understand all y'all's arguments on kids with you-neek names being bullied or having their lives in some other way affected by their different name. I get it. I totally get it. However, I do feel that there may be some dramatization going on here. I don't feel like that is the case with a name like this. As @Bringmemylongswordho felt so important to share, it really isn't that unique. Many other PP's have mentioned hearing this name or knowing someone with this name. Regardless of spelling. I don't feel like it's that off the wall. I just don't agree.
Also, FWIW, I know I mentioned the inspiration for the name being a whisky region and my husband's hobby of different types of alcohol. And now y'all are using the argument that there is no other significant meaning to the name ("an island you've never been to or have no connection to" - which again... islay is a region, not one special island), but just because that was the main thing that gave us the idea for this name that doesn't mean that's the only inspiration for it. FWIW, my mother's side of my family is Scottish, with ancestors from the Isle of Mull. Which I've been to (like it matters.) I've always liked the idea of a Scottish or Irish name but have never really fallen in love with one. Islay is not that crazy.
FWIW.
Not to be a jerk but Islay IS one island. Specifically the southernmost island of the inner Hebrides.
The Starbucks test run experiment is definitely an interesting idea. Maybe I'll be able to talk DH into trying it on his next visit...
I understand all y'all's arguments on kids with you-neek names being bullied or having their lives in some other way affected by their different name. I get it. I totally get it. However, I do feel that there may be some dramatization going on here. I don't feel like that is the case with a name like this. As @Bringmemylongswordho felt so important to share, it really isn't that unique. Many other PP's have mentioned hearing this name or knowing someone with this name. Regardless of spelling. I don't feel like it's that off the wall. I just don't agree.
Also, FWIW, I know I mentioned the inspiration for the name being a whisky region and my husband's hobby of different types of alcohol. And now y'all are using the argument that there is no other significant meaning to the name ("an island you've never been to or have no connection to" - which again... islay is a region, not one special island), but just because that was the main thing that gave us the idea for this name that doesn't mean that's the only inspiration for it. FWIW, my mother's side of my family is Scottish, with ancestors from the Isle of Mull. Which I've been to (like it matters.) I've always liked the idea of a Scottish or Irish name but have never really fallen in love with one. Islay is not that crazy.
FWIW.
So your daughter will be named because of your husband's possible drinking problem? Or am I reading too much into this... Hmmmm.
Not to be a jerk but Islay IS one island. Specifically the southernmost island of the inner Hebrides.
You're right. My mistake. Had to look it up again. Apparently, I didn't pay much attention during the documentary.
And now I'm even more confused. You're naming your daughter a difficult name after somthing you saw in a documentary you didn't really pay attention to while watching???
Wait the significance is So your daughter will be named because of your husband's possible drinking problem? Or am I reading too much into this... Hmmmm.
Now y'all are just being straight up rude. This is the last time I'm responding to this thread. I'm done. Just because someone has an interested in different types of whisky and other types of alcohol, doesn't make them an alcoholic or mean that they have a drinking problem. It's one thing if you want to bash the name or call us crazy for wanting to find a name that isn't a typical cookie cutter name but I'm not letting my husband get talked shit about for having this this very common HOBBY. You don't know anything about us other than our preference on names.
This is getting out of hand and has gone too far. I'm not continuing the discussion with it going down this road. This thread can either be closed or y'all can talk shit from here until it dies. This is just ridiculous.
Again, thank you for those that really tried to help. I have appreciated all your legitimate opinions, concerns and contributions (though some were unsolicited.) We still love the name and will most likely still use it, regardless of how we decide to spell it.
houston, tx. eharmony 7.3.11. married 3.7.15. oilfield wife.
Not to be a jerk but Islay IS one island. Specifically the southernmost island of the inner Hebrides.
You're right. My mistake. Had to look it up again. Apparently, I didn't pay much attention during the documentary. ~~~~~~~~~QBF
This is the second time you have defended your choice of this name by referencing this island, and the second time you have gotten information about it wrong. I just want to point that out. If you're going to defend this name to the death, you should be properly educated about what you are saying. The women here shouldn't have to correct you on the points you make for it. Which to me indicates you like the name because of the way it sounds (which you say in your OP "we really like eye-lee, or eye-ley (soft ending)"), which is fine, but own it. Don't try to educate on why the name is excellent when each time you've had someone prove you out to be wrong.
Whiskey or island, whatever, I believe its a name that your daughter will struggle with. It's not about you, its about your kid.
To answer your question, which is how to spell it, get over it and use the spelling that you did in the thread title. Eye-lee. Done. Now everybody knows how to say it properly. Look silly? What do you care? You just like the way it sounds.
My hobby is equestrian. I'm naming my next child Stallyn - I'm going to keep people guessing on whether it's pronounced Stall-in, Stale-in or Stal-yin. Hmmm....guess I need a feminine counterpart....Canter. That sounds pretty. Hmmm....not feminine enough. Let's add an "a". Cantera. PERFECT! Sounds silly, right?
My hobby is equestrian. I'm naming my next child Stallyn - I'm going to keep people guessing on whether it's pronounced Stall-in, Stale-in or Stal-yin. Hmmm....guess I need a feminine counterpart....Canter. That sounds pretty. Hmmm....not feminine enough. Let's add an "a". Cantera. PERFECT! Sounds silly, right?
You need to add a "Y", so its super feminine. What about
Before reading the back story, I would think the name is "is-lay," like "IS the baby LAYing down?" I think it looks very strange, and agree it shouldn't be that hard to spell an otherwise short name.
Re: Spelling ("Eye-lee")
Thanks!
More than half of the responses in this thread alone are judgey. If it stings to be on the other end of that, perhaps that's indicative it's time for some reflection.
BFP #2 3/21 EDD 11/28/16
To those that did give their suggestions on spelling and attempted to help me out, thank you.
The reasons why my husband prefers the original spelling of a region on this big ol' beautiful globe is beyond me or anyone else. Maybe if the time comes, we will go with a different spelling. But if we don't. So be it. We aren't naming our child Adolf or Nutella. I think she'll be fine. LOL.
Thanks for the help with our whisky region inspired daughter name. In a perfect world, it'll be a great sibset with our gamer tag inspired son name.
Thank you! I always forget the e or no e thing. I'm not the whisk(e)y lover. Soley the hubs. I can't stand the stuff. Y'know how everyone usually has that ONE alcohol they just can't stomach? Usually 'cuz they had a bad drunk on it and anytime they see or smell it it comes back in flashbacks? LOL. Yep. That's mine. Hilarious, right? Looking forward to hearing the responses to that.
The name itself is fine. Good for you for finding something you love and sticking with it. Ailee/Eiley all make sense as spellings. But Islay just isn't going to work if you want people to call her "eye-lee". I consider myself well-read. I have a graduate degree. I've lived in multiple countries (English & non-English speaking). Elin? Check. Aoife? Got it. Boudewijn? Yup. But Islay is just totally counterintuitive with the pronunciation. I mean, you've got the S in there plus the -ay to overcome. The closest people will get is "eye-lay". And those are the people who actually think of the name Isla before they try to say it. When you have people getting confused by Craig/Greg, Islay isn't going to get you your desired result.
Experiment: have your husband go to Starbucks and tell them his name is "eye-lee" and see what they write on the cup. Maybe you'll get some good ideas of how people would spell it and maybe you'll be able to prove to him that none of those spellings is Islay.
I understand you like the name, but you do understand that naming the kid is not about you or your husband right? Its about picking a name that the child has to live with for the rest of their life. Live with, work with and deal with peers with. Cookie-cutter might seem boring, but its a lot easier than an off-the-cuff made-up name. A child with a cookie-cutter name can be more unique than a boring special snowflake named kid. Individuals are individuals. I've known some boring Reighbeaus and some very entertaining, funny and memorable women named Charlotte or Evelyn.
Also, the average person is a judgey beast. Most try to deny it, but they will judge you by your kids name and if you do a special snowflake spelling they might judge your intelligence. If you name your kid from an island you've never been to and have no connection to-- just a bottle of o' booze for inspiration. Well, people may judge you (and by extension your kid) for these things. Is it right? Probably not. It does happen though.
You say you don't care and you dig your heels in. Stubborn won't mean anything when your kid comes home crying because no one can pronounce their name and they are making fun of her.
LFAF Summer 2016 Awards:
I understand all y'all's arguments on kids with you-neek names being bullied or having their lives in some other way affected by their different name. I get it. I totally get it. However, I do feel that there may be some dramatization going on here. I don't feel like that is the case with a name like this. As @Bringmemylongswordho felt so important to share, it really isn't that unique. Many other PP's have mentioned hearing this name or knowing someone with this name. Regardless of spelling. I don't feel like it's that off the wall. I just don't agree.
Also, FWIW, I know I mentioned the inspiration for the name being a whisky region and my husband's hobby of different types of alcohol. And now y'all are using the argument that there is no other significant meaning to the name ("an island you've never been to or have no connection to" - which again... islay is a region, not one special island), but just because that was the main thing that gave us the idea for this name that doesn't mean that's the only inspiration for it. FWIW, my mother's side of my family is Scottish, with ancestors from the Isle of Mull. Which I've been to (like it matters.) I've always liked the idea of a Scottish or Irish name but have never really fallen in love with one. Islay is not that crazy.
FWIW.
Isley is another option he was ok with. I'm not sure this would be better though because of my knowing someone with this last name and it being pronounced "Eye-zlee." Maybe I'm biased because of this. Idk.
LFAF Summer 2016 Awards:
It's a pretty name in theory but in actual execution of seems like a headache. You seem to like a good debate. Hopefully your daughter will be as dogged.
Not to be a jerk but Islay IS one island. Specifically the southernmost island of the inner Hebrides.
And now I'm even more confused. You're naming your daughter a difficult name after somthing you saw in a documentary you didn't really pay attention to while watching???
This is getting out of hand and has gone too far. I'm not continuing the discussion with it going down this road. This thread can either be closed or y'all can talk shit from here until it dies. This is just ridiculous.
Again, thank you for those that really tried to help. I have appreciated all your legitimate opinions, concerns and contributions (though some were unsolicited.) We still love the name and will most likely still use it, regardless of how we decide to spell it.
~~~~~~~~~QBF
This is the second time you have defended your choice of this name by referencing this island, and the second time you have gotten information about it wrong. I just want to point that out. If you're going to defend this name to the death, you should be properly educated about what you are saying. The women here shouldn't have to correct you on the points you make for it. Which to me indicates you like the name because of the way it sounds (which you say in your OP "we really like eye-lee, or eye-ley (soft ending)"), which is fine, but own it. Don't try to educate on why the name is excellent when each time you've had someone prove you out to be wrong.
Whiskey or island, whatever, I believe its a name that your daughter will struggle with. It's not about you, its about your kid.
To answer your question, which is how to spell it, get over it and use the spelling that you did in the thread title. Eye-lee. Done. Now everybody knows how to say it properly. Look silly? What do you care? You just like the way it sounds.
edit - quote box fail
Sounds silly, right?
Baby #2 due 8/11/2016