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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Girls name - final choice - due today!

32 replies

LHB75 · 20/08/2010 08:55

Am due today and if its a girl am undecided between:

Arabella Florence

OR

Florence Arabella

We have a very short surname so need longer first name.

Final curve ball is India but hubby not keen.

What does everyone prefer? I HATE Flo so would have to be very disciplined re nickname and make sure people used Florrie and love Arabella but is it the sloaney with a pony or we have moved on from that?!?....xx

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StrictlyTory · 26/08/2010 09:51

Arabel is nicer than Arabella... Arabella is a bit try hard Sloany IMO.

I still prefer Florance tbh, can have the NN Flora which I really love Grin

Original poster
LHB75 · 26/08/2010 08:52

I think the David Cameron naming his daughter Florence has made the choice for me! I love the 'its more timesless comment'. I know its silly but Florence is becoming very popular anyway and this has put me off....

Thanks everyone!

OP posts:
bigbluebump · 23/08/2010 16:34

Arabella, because 1) Florence will be shortened to Flo or Flossie (which may not sound nice with your short surname) and 2) Arabella seems more timeless/less trendy.

PYT · 23/08/2010 16:34

Florence Arabella.

Love Bella, not Arabella.

Original poster
LHB75 · 23/08/2010 16:31

It see,s Florence is still the most popular although I think i expected that. Baby still not arrived but if it's a girl we will make a dcision when we meet her. Thanks so much to all who posted. Arabel has certainly now become a consideration xx

OP posts:
KAEKAE · 21/08/2010 16:08

I LOVE Florence and my DD would have been named this had it not ryhmed with our surname! Sad

cazzybabs · 21/08/2010 11:10

Florence Arabella

MrsvWoolf · 21/08/2010 11:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
LHB75 · 21/08/2010 10:55

Is it spelt Arabel or Arabelle?

OP posts:
Original poster
LHB75 · 20/08/2010 23:16

I was worried about the increasing popularity if Florence which would be annoying if it was top 10 as i have liked the name for years.

I'm realy loving the suggestion of Arabel. It's beautiful and very unusual so thank you

OP posts:
autodidact · 20/08/2010 20:41

Florence is a lot nicer than Arabella, I think.

But for some reason I really like Arabel. That's just odd to like Arabel but not Arabella, isn't it? I am annoying even myself.

mathanxiety · 20/08/2010 20:31

Arabella here too.

sedgiebaby · 20/08/2010 16:47

Arabella Florence, I think Florence will be in the top ten this year or next. Just a feeling....

Aeldredida · 20/08/2010 13:10

Florence Arabella

Cortina · 20/08/2010 13:04

Flo is far sloanier IMO than Arabella. They're in every posh girls school.

MrsvWoolf · 20/08/2010 12:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MrsvWoolf · 20/08/2010 12:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

emptyshell · 20/08/2010 12:57

Could possibly try to push her gently towards being nicknamed something like Florrie rather than Flo? (Has so many connotations of Aunty Flo aka Red Tide of Doom for me)

Personally I like India but that's because I taught an utterly gorgeous one a few years back!

stinkypants · 20/08/2010 12:48

much prefer florence and really like flo as nn. so long as your surname doesnt begin with t you could use arabella as mn. not so keen on india espec as you then have 2 place names.
good luck!

Cortina · 20/08/2010 12:18

I love India, surprisingly underused, despite a wave of popularity about 10 years ago.

Arabella also ok. Prefer Arabel, as in Arabel's Raven! :)

Original poster
LHB75 · 20/08/2010 11:45

Thank you everyone for for the comments. Didn't expect it to be so unanimous!

OP posts:
morganbuffay · 20/08/2010 11:04

Every Florence I've met uses Flo, by choice. So, don't call her Florence if you hate the idea of her friends calling her Flo when she's older. I do find Arabella a bit sloaney, but it seems to be having a burst of popularity again so maybe it is moving on from that.

Tillyscoutsmum · 20/08/2010 11:02

Definitely Florence (love it). Not keen on Arabella. India is ok but nowhere near as nice as Florence. Florence India ??

Roz14 · 20/08/2010 11:00

Both are beautiful names and both are on my shortlist. I am not sure which I prefer, I think Hmm Florence Arabella but either are beautiful.

NoTeaForMe · 20/08/2010 09:21

I think Arabella is very Sloaney personally! The only Florence I know has Floss as a nickname. Ooh actually, she's Flora..... Either of those any good?