Mumsnet Talk

Which do you prefer & why please...???

I prefer Ella, primarily because of the sound and because of it's Old English meaning: 'beautiful fairy'. Bells is nice, but I think of it as a pet's name.

Nell is another favourite of mine.

Not 'Bells' my iPhone embarrasses me so much

I prefer Ella, like Bella but I think of it as a nn for Belinda, have a friend called it.

Ella is a lovely, classic name.
I'm not so keen on Bella -Tweenies, sorry

I much prefer Ella.
Bella always reminds me of Bella Emburg for some reason and I always imagine them being slightly dumpy and awkward.
I have a niece called Bella who is slightly dumpy and awkward
Ella is really pretty

Hmm personally I prefer Bella, it was on my short list. I think you don't come across it as often as Ella, and is a beautiful classy name.

Prefer Ella but being so over-used it might get lost among all the Ellie's, Eva's, Ava's etc which would put me off personally.

Ella. Bella is a poodle's name.

Ella

Bella for me!

Stella?!

For some reason I think Bella sounds like a dogs name?!

Ella is a bit meh.

Liking Stella or Estelle

Ella.

It's a shame but when I hear Bella now I automatically think Twilight.

Not keen on either but of the two Ella . If you call Bella in a park near here you'd be mobbed by Labradors.

Bella is a tweenie, so Ella wins by default.

Under my umbr-Ella Ella Ella etc... Bella, for me...

Bella is too nickname-ish for me. It's most commonly seen as a NN for Isabella. Ella is pretty and more of a name in its own right (not that Bella isn't, but is certainly more often a nickname).

Ella.

Bella is a bossy Tweenie!

Ella I think. But I consider both of them nicknames rather than "proper" names, and would go for Isabella or Eleanor myself.

I too think of Bella Emburg - it makes me think plump and plain. So Ella is better but it's everywhere.

They're both overused, in all honesty. Do you have a third or forth option in mind?

Ella, but like Stella best of other suggestions (biased).

Ella

Bella. I also love Belle.