Isla vs. Norah?

[MissyLissy]

Which do you prefer? For years I wanted Nora(h) for my little girl. But, a friend using Nora has made me think outside the box, though it's still on my very short list. Now I have fallen in love with Isla! Which do you prefer? Please keep in mind I am from the states where Isla is uncommon, and Nora is rising in popularity. Being from the US though, I also worry if I use Isla she'll forever be correcting people on pronunciation. Decisions.

 

[steph.]

I much prefer Isla. I think it's pretty and feminine. Not a fan of Norah tbh.

 

[MUMOF5]

They are both lovely names, I'm in the uk, so for the reason that Isla is extremely popular here at the mo I would go with Norah, however it seems it's the other way round in the US, and if your friend has a Nora, then it sounds like Isla would perhaps be the better option for you??

 

[Fallacy]

I prefer Norah. It was on our list before. But both names are beautiful. Hard to choose honestly.

 

[Pielette]

I love Norah. I'm put off by Isla given its popularity in the UK, but I would love it if that wasn't the case. So I think both names are gorgeous, and in your position I'd go for the least popular.

 

[pinkribbon]

Isla is hugely popular in the uk, so for that reason I prefer Norah

 

[Noodlebear]

I adore the name Isla (agree that it's very popular in the UK) but I'm not someone who lets popularity affect my choice of name.

 

[Eleanor ace]

I love both! But I'd go for Isla, as it's less common there.

 

[ttclou25]

If Isla isnt popular in US id go for that, i wanted this name but its in top ten here.

 

[dizzy65]

I prefer Isla

 

[wannabemomy37]

I'm from the US also. I think I actually like Isla! Maybe if you're worried about spelling/pronunciation you can go with Aila or something like that?
Norah is a gorgeous name too and honestly don't think it's that popular here in CT but if your friend just named her baby this then I'd go with something different.

 

[MissyLissy]

Thanks for the input! I think where I'm from, my daughter would run the risk of having other Nora(h)'s around, but not overly so if I had named her Sophia or Isabelle or something like that. The "friend" is someone I hardly talk to anymore, so I wouldn't let her using the name I love stop me necessarily, but it did cause me to pause.

With Isla, I'm fairly confident she would be the only one. (At least for now... I hear the name is an up and comer, but it's not even in the top 150 here yet.). This is both good and bad. I love that it's so unique here and pretty, but worry she'll forever be called Is-la, not eye-la. I personally don't really like alternative spellings.

Regardless, I think I'm starting to lean Isla. Next question, I know I want Irene as the middle name no matter what after my grandma. Does Isla Irene sound silly? I thought so at first, but now it's growing in me.

 

[Noodlebear]

I think it's fine. How often are middle names used anyway? My LO's middle name is John, not to my taste really and not a name I would have chosen had it not really meant something to us both.

 

[emyandpotato]

Nora! Never liked Isla much.

 

[RubyRainbows]

I love the name Isla, it's gorgeous! I think since it's becoming more known in the US, it wont be misspelled or mispronounced much. I personally dislike Norah.

 

[MummyStobe]

I love the name Isla and it was on my girls list until it started to get too popular in the UK. Having said that I think Nora is a cute name too.

 

[CanadianMaple]

Norah by a long shot.

 

[maisie78]

Norah is our top girl name choice so definitely the winner for me. Also in the UK Isla is very popular so that would rule it our for me.

 

[MrsPoodle]

Never been a fan of Norah and I quite like Isla. Esme is quite similar I think if you are worried about pronunciation of Isla? Esme Irene goes too.

 

[lhancock90]

I love Isla but Norah is quite sweet aswell!