WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
BABY NAME: They loved the island, now they love their Isla
February 20, 2010
Kristin Rushowy
TORONTO STAR
She was named after a Scottish island her mother visited and fell in love with.
When Iona MacRitchie and husband Mike Wise travelled to Scotland in 2005, they visited the island of Iona and then Islay – enjoying the whisky as much as the hiking – and were inspired to follow the tradition.
Three years later, on July 13, 2008, daughter Isla Catherine Mairi Wise was born.
"Yes, we did celebrate with a dram or two from a Bowmore or Lagavulin whisky from Islay," says Mike.
He felt that since Isla took his last name, "it would be nice to reflect the Scottish heritage on (Iona's) side."
The Toronto couple decided against spelling the name with a y, but used the same pronunciation, eye-la.
Some adults call her "is-la," or even think it's "Lisa" misspelled, but the other children in Isla's daycare have no trouble.
"Eye-la: It's the easiest name for the other kids to say," says Mike.
Catherine is after Mike's sister Kathryn, who met Iona at McMaster university and introduced her to Mike.
Mairi – Gaelic for Mary – is a name common to both Mike and Iona's family.
While Mike doesn't want to divulge any other names they've thought of should they have another child, he says the island theme might continue, "although we're a bit limited" with choices.
Taransay, another Scottish island, for a girl, is one possibility.
And a boy? Well, they might go Canadian in that case: Centre? Ward? Baffin? Or, he laughs, "my son, Prince Edward."
Toronto Star