belle or bella

[joeuseless]

which do you prefer and why ? she would have isabella or isabelle on the birth certificate .

[Wottywot]

I prefer Bella, It sounds cute, I think of Belle as being an older woman.

[ManicAnnie]

Bella.

I like it as a stand alone name, though, not as a nn for Isabella (dreary name, sorry).

Bella is def more popular than Belle, if that is a problem for you, but imo Belle is a bit girly and Disney-ish for my liking.

[Sylvaniasandwich]

Definitely Belle - there are way too many Bellas already.

[Climbthewall]

There are enough little Isabelles/ Isobels and Bellas running around imo

[Eveiebaby]

Belle - it is more uncommon in fact I don't know of any Belle's!

[SilveryMoon]

I much prefer Bella.
My neighbour has an Isabella who they've nned Bella.
It's very pretty imo

[5DollarShake]

Belle is more elegant. Just as Elle is more elegant than Ella.

But does the world really need another one of these name variations? I say this as an adult one of them - even I am bored of it now.

[GColdtimer]

I like both of them but as names rather than nn. and I don't think the name is common. I have two dds and have never come across one at either nursery or school.

[Tortoiseonthehalfshell]

Belle is Disney. Bella is Twilight.

HTH.

[5DollarShake]

I hate Izzy... Such a horrible, um - 'frumpy' is the best I can come up with - nn. Way to ruin a lovely (albeit very common) name.

[joeuseless]

having discussed it with dh we may not use isabella/isabelle didn't realise it was quite so popular . i'm not keen on izzy as a nn either .may use annabel/annabella or even arabel /arabella if i can persuade dh they are not too poncey . he's already vetoed mirabel .

[GColdtimer]

I think annabelle with belle as a nn is lovely.

[valiumbandwitch]

Bella because it can be either. But Belle that then becomes Bella sounds like you couldn't make up your mind.

I like Mirabelle and Christabel too if you want a long name with Belle for short. I think there are a lot of Isabellas but the vast majority of them seem to be Izzies.

[Selks]

Both lovely

[Teaandcakeplease]

My DD is a Bella. Didn't know it was common, no one in her class has her name or that I know. I love it. I do not like Izzy either and never ever use that as a nn for her.

[joeuseless]

good point valium about belle becoming bella looking indecisive .

dh has already vetoed christabel as he dislikes the nn chris ,christy etc .

clarabel (a train to dh ) has also been vetoed . in fact he's vetoed every name i've suggested beginning with c including clara , clodagh ,clarissa , cecile ,charlotte and celeste.

he has also dismissed arabel (too agricultural).

mirabel is french moonshine in his lexicon so that's another no.

annabel/le i love but it's too "posh" for dh .

he hasn't vetoed arabella yet but i doubt he' ll go for that for the same reason .

[valiumbandwitch]

Just go for Bella then! I think it's lovely. I don't watch skylight or twilight. Does everybody watch it? Isn't it a children's programme
Arabella is the poshest of the bel names! I could be influenced by Arabella Buckley from the Enid Blighton books though.

I love Clodagh from your list. What does your dh think of Christa? too posh? ??

[Teaandcakeplease]

I've never watched those programs either Thumb So I'm clueless about them.

[RockStockandTwoOpenBottles]

I have a Bella so I'm biased on that. She's Isabella and I pray that no one calls her Izzy as I loathe it. I don't know any other Bella's but I live in Spain at the moment. If previous threads are anything to go by there may well be lots when we come back.

My other 3 children all have names that are now in the top 10, but they're mid/late teens now and none of them has ever been in a class with another of the same name.

[joeuseless]

valium christa is a non starter as we already have a christine (chris) , christian (chris) ,christopher (chris) and a christy in both our close extended families , so to add another potential chris is probably not a good idea .

i.ve never seen twilight and the tweenies are history to be honest so bella is loooking like a contender.

[5DollarShake]

Sorry - yes, it is your opinion, shitmagnet!

Having grown up with people calling me Izzy, I think it is such a fugly word. As compared with Belle and Bella, which after all, are synonymous with 'beauty'!

[Tortoiseonthehalfshell]

Twilight isn't a programme it's an incredibly popular worldwide bestselling book and set of spinoff movies which have given rise to a weirdy cult very obsessed set of fans. The heroine's name is Bella. The hero's name is Edward. Both names have spiralled up the charts. Neither are particularly likable characters, frankly.

How do people not know this? Honestly?

[LemoryMane]

Maybe because Twilight is for teenagers? Just a wild guess!