Mumsnet Talk

So I love the name Annabel, nn Annie. But I have a London accent - kind of a bit cockney, a bit estuary, just generic southern really. It means I kind of swallow the L at the end of words so it's almost a w. For example, tale becomes tao, or, if I concentrate, tayle.

So is Annabel going to sound odd - I have to either accentuate the L, to be Annabelllll or it's a bit like Annabewl.

Is it going to sound awful? (Even though I would intend to call her Annie).

Be true to yourself - if you like the name go for it. It's an accent, not a speech impediment, after all! Better than giving her a name that's only ever heard with a London accent, isn't it?

I completely agree with Jasbro: your accent is not a speech impediment! A friend of mine is from Southend-on-Sea, and I adore her cute, cockney-sounding voice. I especially love how she says 'lady'; all sweet, with exaggerated vowel sounds.

I have a Brummie accent - probably one of the easiest to knock - but I'm proud of it. Don't not have a name for your DD based on something that really doesn't matter xx

I have got by so far with a Dublinish accent. No matter what name you choose you are going to have to say it out loud some time and why not in your own accent? No accent is superior to any other, or inferior.

I can hear in my head exactly the sound you mean at the end of Annabel, and to be very honest I do think that as a sound, it sounds awful. That is not the same as saying that a whole accent sounds awful, or is inferior to any other - I just don't like the physical sound the name makes. I have a very particular accent myself (specific town in the north midlands, not Birmingham) which has often been mocked through my life, though I admit to consciously modifying it quite extensively over the years.

I can't imagine the sound you mean .

I can't imagine the sound either. Can't translate into east midlands. If you like it go for it. It's a lovely name.

Omg I sound like that too! I use w instead of l at the end of words.

I know what you mean. As a broad Manc I avoided certain names, like those with a flat 'uh' sound.
What about Annabella? That any better?

Annabella easier to say but I don't like it as much. On other hand, I would call her Annie and Annabel just for being naughty as which point I suspect my crossness could summon up an L!

You could just go with Annie. Which is v nice.

For those who can't imagine the w sound on the end, try and think of someone on Eastenders saying it!

What sound does your surname start with? Annabel Harris would sound ropy in anything but the clearest dialect, but Annabel Smith would be OK
in Estuary.

M. But it's not the full name that worries me.

Just Annie is a definite possibility.

Ah bugger, I see I forgot I name changed for this one! Oh well, just didn't want any friends to know our potential baby names.

I heard nikki graham (big brother girl) on a chat show last night. She said 'female winner ' (amongst other things) and I thought, oh, that thread. The way she said female was really quite unusual. Also on funnily enough was rotten cotton as tey called him, John Altman, the actor who played nick cotton. his accent wasn't the same as nikki graham's though, he didn't sound like he was elongating every vowel. his accent more stoccato. he didn't murder ls.

I would go with Annie or Anya perhaps.

where is nikki graham from!?

can imagine exactly what you mean - am in SE London and my kida struggle with words such as 'world' and 'girl' - as you say, the 'l' gets swallowed!

honestly don't think it's a problem - i know lots of isabelles and it's fine.

beautiful name btw - would have gone for it ourselves but we already have a surname ending in 'ell' (or 'ew'!!!) and thought that was enough!

I know just what you mean - I worked with a chap from Essex who pronounced his wife's name 'Annabew' and I thought it was a shame to ruin such a pretty name.

What about Anabeth/Annabeth? The issue won't just be your pronunciation, but at school - I live in South London and am rejecting names on the basis of chav-screech across the playground. I can see the issue with Annabewl, but it is a lovely name. Or just Anna if you're going to call her Annie?

wHAT ABout Anneliese? I think that's lovely.

If you want other Ann- names what about:
Anneli
Anita
Anastasia
Angela