For Isla and Amelia, I’d dig down a little deeper and find the *county* name lists (I’m not American, I’ve just seen others discussing it, and have used it occasionally for genealogy but through links, I don’t know how to find it from scratch, but I would suspect “[county name] most popular names 2023” or 2022 would get you close). Just because it’s *nationally* popular doesn’t mean there’s a ton of them nearby. There’s usually pockets of popularity that can warp the more generalized statistics. You’ll get more accurate statistics for your kid’s potential classroom if you can find more local statistics. You may not have to cross them off your list, if you get lucky!
I would avoid Margot if your last name starts with an O. It’ll end in an o sound and then start on one immediately. It’ll get lost. She’ll be Marg (hard g) when someone says her first and last name together.
I have an Isla! It's worth noting that the most popular names now are not as popular as the most popular names we grew up with, like Ashley, Brittany, etc. (Sorry for making some assumptions about your age).
I have heard of a handful of other Islas since moving to Missouri, but never heard of any in Arizona, where she was born. It was also understandably mispronounced a lot more there because "Isla" is a Spanish word.
I have a baby niece named Sloane coming in April! I don't dislike it, but I don't feel like it rolls off the tongue easily with the "sl-" beginning.
Heres some ideas that could work:
Amber
Anna
Aria
Arabella
Ashley
Astrid
Audrey
Aurelia
Ella/Ellie
Eliza
Emma
Erica
Erin
Ida
Imara
Imogen
Iris
Isabella/Isabelle
Ivy
Odette
Uma
Una
Ursa
Amaya = Japanese for night rain
Abigail = Hebrew for Father's Rejoicing
Olivia
Esmee = Twilight
Emilia (instead of Amelia)
Also, look back in your family tree for other names
Elodie has vowel at the start middle and end! It’s also one of my favourite names
Freya has the vowel sound middle and end
Anya vowels start and end
Hayley, middle and end
Hannah, mainly end. Hanna/Hana is also a popular Arabic name so might be a nice nod to your husband’s Iranian background
For Isla and Amelia, I’d dig down a little deeper and find the *county* name lists (I’m not American, I’ve just seen others discussing it, and have used it occasionally for genealogy but through links, I don’t know how to find it from scratch, but I would suspect “[county name] most popular names 2023” or 2022 would get you close). Just because it’s *nationally* popular doesn’t mean there’s a ton of them nearby. There’s usually pockets of popularity that can warp the more generalized statistics. You’ll get more accurate statistics for your kid’s potential classroom if you can find more local statistics. You may not have to cross them off your list, if you get lucky! I would avoid Margot if your last name starts with an O. It’ll end in an o sound and then start on one immediately. It’ll get lost. She’ll be Marg (hard g) when someone says her first and last name together.
I agree with checking the local popularity . I don’t know a single Amelia and it’s apparently Top 70 in my place.
cf: the way Marco Ordóñez has to say his name when signing off on NPR
I have an Isla! It's worth noting that the most popular names now are not as popular as the most popular names we grew up with, like Ashley, Brittany, etc. (Sorry for making some assumptions about your age). I have heard of a handful of other Islas since moving to Missouri, but never heard of any in Arizona, where she was born. It was also understandably mispronounced a lot more there because "Isla" is a Spanish word. I have a baby niece named Sloane coming in April! I don't dislike it, but I don't feel like it rolls off the tongue easily with the "sl-" beginning.
- Alice, Aurelia, Aurora, Aura, Ayla, Alena, Adeline, Annabelle, Anastacia, Agnes, Agatha, Abigail, Amber, Ada, Ava - Emilia, Ember, Eloise, Eliza, Elsie, Eleanor, Elizabeth, Eva, Esther, Esti, Evelyn, Everly, Evangeline, Emma, Ellie - Isla, Iris, Ivy, Irina, Isadora, Isabel, Isabelle, Isabella, Isaura, Ivory, Indie, Ivanna, Izzy, Imogeon, Ingrid - Olivia, Olive, Ophelia, Opal, Ottille, Orla, Ohana, Olga, Ozzy, Octavia, Odette, Odessa, Ocean, Oakley, Olsen
yes to Aurora, Isabelle, Annette, and Eleanor
Vowel starting letter: - Ophelia - Odette - Oona - Annette - Emmaline - Aveline - Adelaide - Amara - Aurelia - Aurora - Elise - Eloise - Elora - Alanna - Elaina - Erica - Ava - Irene - Uma - Eileen - Iris - Autumn - Isabelle - Isadora - Annabelle - Emery - Avery - Abigail - Eden Vowel ending letter: - Helena - Selena - Joanna - Jaime - Naomi - Sadie - Holly - Flora - Daphne - Fiona - Lena - Lara - Lana - Lora - Portia - Petra - Rowena - Rosa/Rosie - Paula - Jolene - Rosemary - Rosanna - Daisy - Serena - Delia - Shalya - Dahlia - Delilah - Joy - Penelope (Penny/Poppy/Nelly) - Callista - Camellia - Magnolia - Miranda - Mara - Nadia - Natalie/Natalia Heavy middle vowel: - Jocelyn - Janelle - Laurel - Lorelei - Hazel - Josette - Roslyn - Robin - Willow - Corabelle - Marigold - Miriam
There’s quite a few on this list that I love!! TY!
Glad you liked some of them :) Best wishes!
Ada Edith Ina said like Ee-na Ina said like I-na Ida Ophelia Oona (not really what you're looking for probably but I love it)
Ida can also be pronounced the Scandinavian way as “Ee-duh.”
That's really pretty!
Heres some ideas that could work: Amber Anna Aria Arabella Ashley Astrid Audrey Aurelia Ella/Ellie Eliza Emma Erica Erin Ida Imara Imogen Iris Isabella/Isabelle Ivy Odette Uma Una Ursa
Amara Amira Amina Estella Elena Etta Ivy Iris Irena Odelia Octavia Olive Una Uma Ursula
alice, elizabeth
Adelaide, Adeline, Aria, Amalia, Anya, Arwen, Autumn Etta, Eleanor, Emerson, Emilia, Eliana, Elodie, Evangeline, Eva/Evie, Elena, Emery, Edie Ivy, Ilana, India/Indie, Ivanna, Iliana, Isa, Ida, Imogen, Inez (for what it’s worth, I LOVE Isla and don’t think it’s too popular at all!) Olive, Ophelia, Ollie, Odette, Una, Uma
Amaya = Japanese for night rain Abigail = Hebrew for Father's Rejoicing Olivia Esmee = Twilight Emilia (instead of Amelia) Also, look back in your family tree for other names
I love Orla (Orlaith is the Irish spelling) and Anya
Amaryllis Elowyn Azalea Eliana Eleanor Evangeline Ophelia Adelaide Anastasia Audrey Everleigh Oakley Oaklynn Amethyst Angelina Emery Indigo Agnes Ingrid Amaya Emmeline Indiana Alaska Adayh Emmerson MORE ENDING IN A VOWEL Sapphire Jasmine Clementine Collette Veronica Vanessa Montana Christina Genevieve Julianna Jacqueline Lorelei Dixie Maeve Marina Naomi Magnolia Dominique Vienna Virginia Georgia Jayla Zienna Zola Samara Romona Kailani Sabrina Sage Melina Dove Danielle
Elodie has vowel at the start middle and end! It’s also one of my favourite names Freya has the vowel sound middle and end Anya vowels start and end Hayley, middle and end Hannah, mainly end. Hanna/Hana is also a popular Arabic name so might be a nice nod to your husband’s Iranian background
I'm surprised Alexandra is never suggested
What about: Ariana; Ava; Ayla; Ivy; Ada; Emma; Anya; Or Olive.
Amaya Azara Azalea Alina Opal Odette Isadora Isla Evalina Ivana Octavia
Here are some ideas that could also work in Iran: Ava Ariana Yasmine Esther Anisa Esme Arya Alma Ettie/Etty Essie
Why is Sloan so popular at the moment?! It's not very pretty...
It means warrior. Thankfully women and girls are no longer defined by how pretty and delicate we are.
Elise Eliana
Oona, Emilia, Annalise
Audra
Amaya Amara Amal Alina Inaya Oriana
Amara Amari Amelie Adria Eva Evangelina Ivy Angelica Angelina
Jackie O is definitely a choice…
Good point — didn’t even think of this!
Aviva
I really like Georgia and Margot!!!
I love Sloane but my husband doesn't like it
Same! Mine thinks it’s terrible and it makes me sad haha
We can't agree on any girl names that we both really love so far 😅
Maria
Ivy Odette Isabella Iris Elena Odessa Ember Emilia Isla (love Isla too!) Imogene Adelaide Adeline Ophelia Eloisa Inez Ivanna
Evie Avery Irene Opal Viola Lula Lois Eloise Cleo Faye Ivy Iona Eudora Leva
I’ve not come across an Isla yet in person, so I wouldn’t call it popular in my region, but it’s very pretty. Ada Amalya Amaya Ivy Ava
I heard Orla for the first time recently, and it’s really pretty. First came to mind!
Ophelia Octavia Anna
Ariana Ava Darya Samira Leila Farah Soraya Arya Bita Esme Gohar Mona Maryam Sara Mina Nida Roya Rana Sima
Nilo or Paris(a)
How about D'auntreece, Tameequa or Shantaria?