are Emerelda and Mirabela good names for characters in a children's book?

[GlitteringGrass]

They are both princess and twin sisters (although not identical). Also neither wants to be queen and they are both mischievous (but not tomboys). Has this been done before?

[Ohwhatfuckeryisthis]

First sounds too much like esmerelda and second like mirabella spelt wrong.

[BikeRunSki]

Sounds a lot like The Little Princess, although there is only one of her.

I don't really like the names. Prefer Emerald and Mirabel.

[nooka]

As a parent I would never call twins such similar names, plus I'm afraid I don't like names that just look misspelled (even in fiction!). I agree that Emerald and Mirabel would be better.

As for whether your story concept has been told before, I suspect that no story is ever truly unique, at least not at such a high level. I don't think it matters so long as your characters are good and you can tell an interesting story.

[lastnightiwenttomanderley]

Just makes me think of Anastasia and Drizella to be.honest.

[Witchend]

There's certainly similar ideas out there. Is it the pony mad princess who's a tom boy who doesn't want yo be a princess? Anyway dd2 went through a princess phase and reading them and have come across that sort of idea.

When mine were that sort of age as I assume you're aiming at by the subject matter they liked shortish names that were. "pretty", a bit flowery sounding, but that they could read easily rather Tha having to think about. Lily-Anna would be fine but not Lilianna because it isn't easy to see immediately.

[Geraniumred]

Mirabelle has been used for a princess already. Emeralda has too, but only in a short story by Joan Aiken.