Bella for a girl even though we're not italian?

[MamiBabi]

What is the feeling about Bella as a first name and do you hav to be of talian descent to get away with it?

[MamiBabi]

sorry - italian not talian!

[lastboxoftampons]

I think it's common enough now that people don't expect you to be Italian. People might expect it to be short for Isabella though. Personally I don't like it (it was a friend's dog's name and will forever be associated with a bulldog to me - sorry!)

[JamSandwichCream]

Not sure but will she be doomed to being stereotypically hysterical and running a cafe in Pontypandy?

[BonsoirAnna]

I think that in English Bella is best as a shortened version of Arabella or Annabel(la) or Christabel IYSWIM.

[MamiBabi]

See now I'm welsh and am very concerned about possibility of dd opening a cefe in tonypandy whilst being hysterical!

[MamiBabi]

cafe not cefe!

[RachieB]

not keen as a name on its own,but ok short for Isabella

[choosyfloosy]

I quite like it - would assume it was a shortening but don't really have a problem with that in this case, as it is a real word. It's nice IMO.

[bytheLiffey]

I wouldn't assume you were Italian. I don't expect Clara to be Spanish or an Isabella to be Italian for that matter.

[MrsMattie]

Adore it . Much nicer than Isabella or Arabella. Wouldn't assume you were Italian. I think it's lovely, feminine, simple.l

[viennesewhirl]

I love Bella, one of my choices if we'd had a girl!

[MamiBabi]

It may be back on the list then!

[CoteDAzur]

Bella is not a name, it's a nickname.

Name your child Isabella or Anabel etc and call her Bella.

[FlyMeToDunoon]

Bella common among older scottish ladies as a short form of Isobel and names like that.
I like it.

[WinkyWinkola]

Bella is a lovely name. You can call your child what you want - you don't have to be of any descent.

Except I did raise an eyebrow when an old friend declared her intention to call her son 'Lucifer'.

[Kotek]

Bella is increasingly common as a girls name these days and not as a shortening.
Lots and lots of Bellas in Australia now I have noticed.

[kidcreoleandthecoconuts]

Bella is a beautiful name.

I would have loved to have called my DD Bella but DP has slept with a Belle

[Bella73]

I LOVE it

[dinkymum]

I like it and personally wouldnt strictly associate it with being italian!

[janeite]

Lovely.

[littlerach]

Love it.

My friend has just called her dd Bella and it is lovely.

[goingtohaveagoodnightssleep]

Bella is a lovely name. DD1 has a very Italian name and hasn't any Italian in her at all, has pale skin and freckles but it really suits her.