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I seem to be drawn more and more to names that begin with the letter "I", but still I don't care for it. It is becoming super overused on the current kids' generation (along with Olivia and Sophia, it's approaching "Emily-levels"). And I agree with other posters on its frilly nature - however, I don't perceive it as having nearly as many frills as, say, Cecilia or Priscilla, because that middle "b" adds a lot of weight to it.

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That said, while the "-ella" ending for a four-syllable name can be a bit much, I am somewhat fond of the French variant, Isabelle. Even prettier is its Scottish counterpart, Isobel.

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I've tried to like Isabel, but to me it looks incomplete. :-(

I don't like any Isabelle names, or varients. It's personal for me. It brings on feelings of confusion and dislike.

I feel like I'm one of the only people on here who actually likes the name Isabella. In Brazil it's not unheard of on a grown woman, so I don't see it as exceptionally childish or princessy, although the spelling Isabela seems to be more common here.

This message was edited 5/1/2016, 6:48 PM

I hate it too, but not because it's princessy, as I don't think it is. I think it's heavy and mustachioed.

Isabella literally gives me the feeling of a sticky drooled-on plastic Disney toy.

Hi !!!!

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I agree with you!!!
I dislike Isabella very much!

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Its "-bella" sound is horrible.
I say that because I'm Italian so here "bella" is like "pretty"..
So name a person with this end seems...a joke, not serious in my opinion.

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Byeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Yeah, Isabella does get on my nerves--I find it well over-the-top. Isabel or Isobel are so much more appealing.

I don't like it because it's too frilly for me and also way overused but I do understand the appeal, I guess? Some people love princess-sounding names. They want a little pink-loving, glittery princess daughter. I can deal with that because preference and it does have some neat history to it. I think I hate just Bella as a given name more than Isabella.

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I also don't mind Izzy. It's a bit sportier if being Princess Bella isn't her thing.

I'm not a fan of Isabella, but not because it's princessy. I don't think it is. It's the -ella that turns me off a little, it's too softened up in english. I would rather Isabel.

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I think people like Isabella because it's got that IZZ in it, it's sorta spunky like Liz. And the Bella part is warm and feminine and balances it out. It's not so bad!

I'm not a huge fan of Isabella, but I can very much see the appeal. It is a princessy name, in that I'd be willing to bet it's the most commonly found female name in European monarchies, more so than its sister Elizabeth. And the Isabels and Isabellas that I can think of have all been pretty strong characters, too - one of them, I can't remember which, essentially managed to overthrow her husband.

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In actuality, though, I think most parents choose it now because it has "bella" in it, and the world needs to know how beautiful their particular child is.