Arabel

[iskra]

What do we think of this? Chimes in too much with the whole Isabella/Isabelle thing, & playground shortly to be over-run with them?

I always loved Arabel & Mortmer, you see...

[flopsy1974]

I quite like it, and don't know any at the moment.

[daisybear]

I like it too.
i would spelll it arabelle but thats just my personal preference

[oohlaalaa]

I like it too. I also love Amabel

[Converse]

Lovely :)

[minipie]

I like it.

Bear in mind she'd probably get called Arabella a lot though (which I'm not nearly so keen on).

[52Girls]

As in land. Nah.

[Helzapoppin]

Lovely name! (but then, I'm biased, as I have an Arabel). We chose it as Arabel and Arabella are used in DH's family a lot- she does often get called Arabella (sometimes by family members, who have clearly forgotton the exact variation we have gone for!) and I used Bella as a nickname.

I've met a couple of (non-family) Arabellas but only one other Arabel, who was an adult, so I doubt there will be too much of a surge!

Arable never occurred to me and was only mentioned once (by a friend who is a barley farmer so has the word on his mind more than most!).

[SloganLogan]

Beautiful name, and I can't see anything wrong at all with a "farming influence" :)

[gapants]

Arable farming.

Dislike

[Mamaz0n]

I posted Arabelle as the name my 7 year old self would have namechanged to.

I still quite like it. And don't think it would be overly popular

[joeuseless]

love it
prefer it to arabella , it just feels more chic ,grounded and sensible. i don't think the vague link with arable farming would be picked up on in rl very often.

[squeak2392]

I think it sounds nice, but I just see Arable. I'd suggest spelling it Arabelle, but I'm against -belle endings - OTT imo.
I like Arabella though. Also Amabel, although I'm concerned about the connection with Amiable.

[iskra]

The arable farming thing doesn't bother me. DD is called Nina, which according to half of MN is the sound ambulances make.

Still not sure about it though. Definitely not -belle ending - too pretty frilly for my tastes.

[razzlebathbone]

It's nice but I did instantly think of arable land.

[umf]

Was reading A&M to DS just yesterday and thinking "I should start a MN thread to see if other people like Arabel too or if it's just too much of an Isabel spin off". But you got there first. Oh well. Maybe I'll have an original thought one day.

[Astley]

I like it. Makes a nice change from all the elle and bella ending names.

[RubyFakeNails]

I really like it, this is exactly the kind of name I was looking for for dd2. Dont use the belle ending though, completely ruins it. I think Arabel is quite chic actually.

[Grabaspoon]

I thought of farming - and thats with year 8 geography at least 10 years behind me!

[AlpinePony]

I like Arabella, Arabel doesn't quite sound "finished" to my ears.